Stay Safe and Authorised: Supporting Contractors in the Extractives and Mineral Processing Industry

Working in the mineral products sector means operating in environments where safety is everything. Whether you’re in quarrying, cement, asphalt, or aggregates, every contractor has a responsibility to understand the risks involved and follow industry standards that keep everyone safe. That’s where the MPQC/SPA Contractor Safety Passport comes in.

What is the MPQC/SPA Minerals Contractor Safety Passport?

The Safety Passport is a nationally recognised qualification jointly developed by the Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) and the Safety Pass Alliance (SPA). This qualification is available to all contractors accessing quarry sites from electricians and painters to maintenance personnel.

This is an industry standard that demonstrates that contractors working across the industry have received specific health and safety training

For site management, this qualification offers something even more valuable – confidence. Bringing contractors onto site can increase the risk of incidents occurring. The MPQC/SPA Safety Passport creates a baseline standard of safety knowledge by covering industry-specific health and safety hazards, key risk awareness and control measures, site behaviour expectations and essential emergency procedures and responsibilities. Altogether, this helps to reduce accidents, improve communication, and improve safety on site.

By mandating that contractors hold the MPQC/SPA Passport, employers can be sure that anyone entering their site already understands site rules, risk assessments, and emergency procedures, which saves time, improves safety, and reinforces compliance.

Obtaining the MP Connect Card

The Contractor Safety Passport also acts as a route to obtaining the MP Connect Card, a digital system designed to modernise how the industry manages contractor competence and compliance.

MP Connect, launched by MPQC in 2020, securely records and verifies contractor training, qualifications, and site access permissions. The smart, scannable MP Connect Card links directly to an individual’s online profile, allowing site managers to instantly confirm that contractors hold the correct, up-to-date training and credentials before they enter site.

This system helps eliminate paperwork, speeds up onboarding, and ensures that only qualified personnel are authorised to work. Many employers across the mineral products industry are transitioning to this system and require contractors to hold both a valid MPQC/SPA Safety Passport and an active MP Connect Card.

To register for an MP Connect Card, contractors can register through an approved training provider or directly through MPQC. The following information is needed:

• Passport-style photo
• Valid ID (e.g., passport, driver’s licence)
• National Insurance number
• In-date Safety Passport (e.g., CSCS, MPQC / SPA Safety Passport)
• Recognised training certificates

Flexible Training Options

As one of the largest MPQC-approved training providers, Certora Training delivers both the initial and renewal Contractor Safety Passport qualification. Offered as either a one-day or two-day course, Certora can deliver this course in person either as a closed course at your site or as an open course at one of our training venues or Tarmac’s National Skills and Safety Park.

Virtual Learning Available

To provide greater flexibility to busy contractors, Certora have recently launched a virtual version of this course, and it is proving extremely popular with their customers. These open courses are available on weekdays and weekends to suit a wide range of busy schedules.

For further information or guidance, contact a member of Certora’s team on 01246 386900.