Health and safety training is always in the news, whether it is to do with corporate training, work-related injuries and deaths caused as a result of poor or insufficient health and safety training. Here, the team at Instant Training take a closer look at IPAF training and PASMA training courses and why these are important for both you and your team…
IPAF Training: The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) was set up over 25 years ago, to represent the interests of manufacturers, distributors, users and training companies. Health and safety training in the use of work equipment is, of course, required by law and the IPAF has approved hundreds of training centres across the world. The training programmes for platform operators, created by industry professionals, are intensive but provide a thorough insight. Instant Training offers three IPAF training courses: the IPAF Demonstrator, the IPAF Operator and the IPAF Safety Harness access courses.
The IPAF Demonstrator course is for existing operators and provides an in-depth look at health and safety requirements for the safe operation of a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), in addition to being trained how to demonstrate the safe use and operation of this platform. Upon successful completion of the course, the trainee will obtain a five-year licence.
The IPAF Operator course trains operators to prepare and operate scissor lifts and self propelled booms. Candidates interested in this course are required to have a thorough knowledge of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, in particular sections two to nine and eighteen to nineteen. Upon successful completion of the course, the trainee will receive a five-year licence, a log book and an operator safety guide.
The IPAF Safety Harness access course aims to provide the delegate with an appreciation of the safe use and inspection of safety harnesses. There is a significant focus in this course on health and safety, in terms of both legislation and the appropriate governing bodies and consists of both practical and theoretical training. Upon successful completion of the course, the candidate will receive a five-year licence.
PASMA Training: The Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Assocation (PASMA) was set up in 1974, comprising of the major manufacturers of alloy access towers in the UK. PASMA training courses were developed in the early 1980s, which are now “universally acknowledged as the industry standard”, according to PASMA itself. The PASMA Code of Practice was also introduced in the 1980s and appears to have become the definitive access tower reference document for health and safety professionals and users working with access towers. This training course is only available from PASMA Registered Training Centres.
The course offered by Instant Training aims to inform trainees about legal and statutory requirements, as set out under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, in the safe installation, removal, inspection and use of mobile access towers. This intensive one-day training course takes into account ground conditions, bracing and boarding, working platforms, ladder access, 3T Build Method, use of base plates, use of sole boards, guard-rails and toeboards. Upon successful completion of the course, the candidate will receive a five-year licence.