The Training Required For Elevated Work Platforms.

Safety must always be of paramount importance at the workplace. When winding up a job, it will likely be essential to use the right tools or equipment and operators will require the correct level of training. If these two rules are obeyed, then the amount of work-related accidents will always be kept to an absolute minimum and everyone are able to carry out their jobs with confidence and awareness.

Naturally, there will be equipment that would require a far larger degree of training. Some types of apparatus continue to be perfectly safe make use of, but there are more potential hazards to bear in mind of. Elevated Work Platforms (EWPs) are a very good example of this because they have an added element of danger. Anyone who is working at heights should always know what they're doing. There is very little room for error when you are a good distance from the ground and one small mistake can have large consequences.

EWPs can be split into two main categories and there are specific training programmes in place for each. This is brief explanation of the two different groups and which qualifications are required to use the equipment in them.

Powered Access Equipment
As the name would suggest, this first group is barely home to powered EWPs, but has its own sub-group of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs).
To use any of this equipment you'll be ought to possess the relevant operator credentials and the most widely recognised of those is the PAL (Powered Access Licence) card. This card is recognised by both the MCG (Major Contractors Group) and the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). To obtain a PAL card it will be essential to undergo proper IPAF training. The IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) can be described as non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the safe use of powered access equipment. Every year, over seventy-thousand operators are trained from the IPAF worldwide!
When an operator has passed his/her IPAF Training, a PAL card will then be awarded. This will be valid for a five year period after which it will likely be necessary to re-train.
Other powered access equipment certification is obtainable, but the PAL card is the most generally recognised type.

Manual Access Towers and Platforms
This second group is specifically for non-powered elevation equipment and courses for the sort of machinery will obviously be very different to those in the first category. The most commonly used training services are those of PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association).
In 2005, the PASMA Organisation was singularly to blame for the training of twenty-four thousand candidates! They're very highly respected and are seen by most as offering the very best courses in the safe use of operated by hand lifting equipment.
Once a trainee has successfully completed their course, they will receive a certificate of competency and a photo-card to use on-site.
Again, the PASMA card is not the only type of certification for manual operators, but it is by far the most widely recognised.

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Ryan James is a leading instructor of IPAF Training courses with over 10 years commercial experience.

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