Don Aers and Stuart Hopkins appointed PASMA Directors

PASMA’s technical manager, Don Aers, and training scheme manager, Stuart Hopkins, have both been appointed directors of the Association with effect from 1 January 2012. They become technical director and director of training respectively.

Don Aers joined the Association in January 2010 from the Youngman Group. After graduating in engineering from Brunel University, Aers worked for Pye, BOC and Alcatel in various design and development roles, including a spell as chief
design engineer with Cinevision Services in London and Tokyo. He joined the Youngman Group as technical manager in 1995.

He is a well-known figure in the access industry. As well as being a member of the BSI B514 (access and support equipment), B514/24 (mobile access tower) and B514/41 (fixings) committees, he sits as a UK representative on CEN technical committee TC53 (temporary works equipment) and TC53 working group 4 (mobile towers).

He is also a past chairman of the Ladder Association, a member of the BSI B512 Ladder Standards Committee and sits as a UK representative on CEN TC93, the European Ladder Standards Committee.

PASMA’s new director of training joined the Association in 2008 from HSS where he was group senior trainer having previously held various positions including branch manager, area manager and national training manager.

He holds the certificate in training practice from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, the RoSPA safety instructor’s certificate and was chairman of the IPAF training committee 2004-2005.

Comments chairman of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) and PASMA’s managing director, Peter Bennett: “Both Don and Stuart are well known and respected throughout the industry and are two of the most experienced people in the access and work at height sectors.”

“Their advancement recognises their respective contributions to the Association and provides the necessary platform for them to support the work of the various committees, liaise with the relevant regulatory bodies and provide advice and guidance to PASMA’s 300 plus members in the UK and Ireland.”

Don looks after the PASMA Technical and Hire & Assembly Committees and Stuart is responsible for the PASMA Training Committee.