*Project BackgroundThe EFMO project has been designed to the meet the needs & demands of European Forest Machine Operators-EFMO. Recent UK & European statistics highlight an unacceptable workplace fatality rate associated with skilled operations undertaken in the agriculture & forestry industries priority sectors for UK & EU health & safety authorities. The EFMO project will particularly focus on the use of forwarders, harvesters and tractors in mechanical harvesting operations & compare western European & eastern European skills & techniques employed. In Ireland over 58% of all agricultural related injuries have been associated with tractor operations, an unacceptably high accident rate. Additionally, twenty-one fatalities to skilled forest machinery operators in Slovenian forest during 2015 for example, is likewise, an unacceptably high fatality rate. Overall, during the last few decades there has been more accidents & fatalities during harvesting, crush injuries due to machine overturns/unexpected movement etc. The EFMO project aims to seriously address these issues.Partners aim to build upon the successful work of previous projects which developed for example the European Chainsaw Certificate (ECC) with the objective in providing similar high quality safety certification for European Forest Machine Operators. In order to enhance training delivery, the EFMO project aims to facilitate best practice & high quality instruction standards & techniques amongst VET providers & skills trainers of courses in machinery operations across Europe & beyond, exchanging knowledge, training innovations & expertise in the process leading to safer trainers & trainees.*Key NeedsThe ultimate project goals & key needs are as follows:1. Develop high quality innovative & standardised EFMO qualifications 2. Develop high quality innovative training guidance for the benefit of EFMO trainers & trainees3. Reduce workplace fatality & incident rates & associated economic and personal costs within the EFMO sectors of agriculture & forestry*Key ObjectivesAchieving the key needs requires the following objectives to be met:1. Develop innovative European occupational safety standards in EFMO 2. Improve transparency & recognition of EFMO skills via innovative European qualifications accredited by ABA International3. Enhance EFMO trainer/operators mobility & employability throughout Europe 4. Encourage & promote life-long learning & continuous professional development within the EFMO sector*Project ParticipantsThe project team are a highly experienced and motivated partnership between industry & training specialists with a desire to improve training standards for the benefit of skilled machine operator safety in agriculture & forestry activities.*Project ActivitiesThe project life-cycle includes a number of tasks required to achieve the needs & objectives. These include for example:• Industry consultations• Seminar & workshop presentations• Training the trainer events• Pilot testing activities• Development of innovative new European qualification guidance• Continuous project dissemination • International certification events• Development of innovative new European training guidance *Project MethodologyThe project will be undertaken in the 3 phases:Phase 1: EFMO Occupational Guidance•Project management meetings: task lists, dissemination plans etc•Train the trainer meetings: upskilling, sharing best practice etc•Develop training standards•Undertake project promotional activitiesPhase 2: EFMO Qualification Guidance•Follow-up project management meetings•Train the trainer meetings: skills consolidation, practice new techniques, pilot test new qualifications etc•Develop new VET training materialsPhase 3: EFMO Pilot Testing•Finalise new VET trainer & trainee training materials •Continued analysis, dissemination & enhancement of project products & goals•Live test new European certifications *Project Impact, Results & Longer Term BenefitsThe project will achieve its objectives including having a positive impact on training innovations of VET machine operator skills safety at the European level. The key results will include:•Promote the integration of the new EFMO qualifications within apprenticeships, further education & higher education programmes•Support the recognition & transnational mobility of forest machine operators & their EFMO qualifications•Support life-long learning & continuous professional development of forest machine operators & EFMO trainers•Support a reduction in accidents & fatalities in the EFMO sector via the successful achievement of the EFMO project & post project as part of the long-term sustainability plans supported by the accreditation body ABA International