Recent changes in product standards relating to non standard configuration tower builds have lead to changes in manufacturing requirements to meet the new BS1139-6:2021 standards. Two of the leading manufacturers, Lakeside Industries and Euro Towers, have taken steps to gain third party certification to meet the new standards, with support from the Test & Research Centre. The changes have also lead to an update on training requirements for PASMA additional module training courses, so with this in mind, the two manufacturers took the decision, in collaboration with PASMA, to open their factories in Redditch and Northampton respectively to PASMA Instructors to come along and learn about their product ranges and take a tour of the factories to see how the manufacturing process takes place and how the manufacturers are meeting the new standards.
Richard said: "These type of events are invaluable as an Instructor as they not only help us to keep up to date with the latest goings on within the industry but also help us gain specific knowledge we might otherwise not learn. Its also the social aspect of it on the day, as an Instructor we usually work alone so its good to get a few of us together now and then as you'd be surprised how much you learn just by chatting with other Instructors, swapping stories and experiences."
The main aim of these events are to broaden the knowledge of PASMA Instructors, to show differences between different manufacturers towers, such as bracing patterns, build methods, even the material they are made from. Not all towers are the same, even if they look similar or are the same heights. This is even more emphasised when you start getting into the non standard configuration builds. Instructors can then pass on this knowledge to those attending PASMA training courses. PASMA Lead Auditor George Lopez, who attended and helped run both events, stated about the Alto event: “This was a great experience for instructors to learn more about Alto’s products and manufacturing process, as well as understand how and why they achieved their BS 1139-6 certification. It was also a great experience for them to build the Alto Access tower, as many of them rarely get the chance to build one. This was an excellent chance for everyone to experience this and broaden their expertise in different tower brands.”
Thanks go to Charles Wright and the team at Lakeside Industries and to Roger Verallo and the team at Euro Towers for putting on the events for the Instructors and to George Lopez and PASMA for helping organise and run them. The use of Harness and Lanyards when working with Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) is a common sight on most sites and a requirement in most instances. According to IPAF data, falls from the platform are one of the major causes of injury or fatality associated with using MEWPs. Training for the safe use of Harness and Lanyards has always been critical to safe use of boom type platforms. Recently, IPAF have reviewed their Harness course and have made changes to the delivery of this training so that it is better tailored to the individuals taking the course. So what has changed?Previously, IPAF had a stand alone half day course that would include all the information a delegate would need to know, including selecting the right equipment, storage and maintenance, wearing the equipment and checking the equipment on a pre-use and thorough examination basis. This approach was designed to be a "one stop shop" to provide all this information for training purposes, however it was found that a lot of the delegates attending the courses were only really required to use Harnesses for their jobs and that they would not be responsible for thorough examinations. On review of this, IPAF have replaced the traditional half day Harness course with 3 new Harness courses, designed to tailor better to individual's specific involvement with Harnesses. So what are the courses now?IPAF have launched 3 courses to make up 3 new categories, which are designed to work in a tiered system and the courses you take will depend entirely on the level of information each individual requires for their jobs. The new categories are: Harness Awareness (HA) Designed for those who require a theoretical understanding of harnesses without the need to use one themselves. Theory based course, approx 3hrs, completed either in person in a classroom or via eLearning. Harness User (HU) Designed for those who require to use a harness within a MEWP for their work. Must have successfully completed HA course first and practical is completed in person. Harness Inspector (HI) Designed for those who are responsible for completing periodic inspections of harnesses. Must have successfully completed both HA and HU courses first. Classroom based course, no eLearning option. So how long does Harness training take now?This depends entirely on what level of training is required, which course(s) are taken and the format in which they are done. For example, typically the majority of delegates will require training to HU level, which could either be done as a half day session at a Training Centre doing both HA and HU categories, or the HA category could be done as an eLearning module and the delegate attends the Training Centre to complete the HU category in person.
If the delegate requires the HI category, this can be done as a half day in the afternoon after completing the HA and HU categories in the morning, making this a full days training, or could be completed on a different day. IPAF are also allowing the HU category to be integrated into their standard IPAF Operator course (where applicable) to help reduce the time spent at the Training Centre. Delegates would need to have completed the HA category prior to the course. For more information regarding Harness courses and your specific training requirements, contact us to discuss options. Following on from a comprehensive review of the worldwide data they receive on accident reporting and near misses, IPAF have revamped and updated their Loading & Unloading course.
A small working group of members of the IPAF Training Committee, including Paul Roddis (IPAF Training Manager) and lead by Martin Wraith (IPAF Auditor), took on the task of taking the existing Load/Unload course and, incorporating the information from the accident reporting database, giving it a new look to bring it in line with the current Operator and MEWPs For Managers courses. The course now includes much more visual referencing, is designed to be more interactive for the course participants and provide a much better learning experience during the theory session. The course has also been adapted to allow for loading and unloading during the practical session to be for other types of plant equipment, such as fork lift trucks or diggers, as well as MEWPs. Paul Roddis says: “The IPAF Load/Unload course has been reviewed off the back of the accident statistics showing that the people most likely to be harmed in a MEWP-related incident are delivery drivers. We believed that there was more the course could offer in terms of equipping and protecting operatives loading and unloading MEWPs, and we wanted to do more to help protect them. This updated training course does exactly that. “In terms of visual enhancements, the new course incorporates a new IPAF fleet of delivery vehicles starting with a 4x4 with trailer, a 3.5t flat-bed van, a 7.5t beaver-tail, as well as a 26t rigid and a 40t articulated HGV trailer.” For details regarding the IPAF Load/Unload course, please contact our office On 11th April 2020, the government announced its plan to start easing lockdown restrictions in a phased manner, with the aim being to return life to as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and fairly as possible in a way that avoids a new epidemic, minimises lives lost and maximises health, economic and social outcomes.
Along with a lot of other businesses, RSC Training Ltd is a business that cannot be solely done at home. Following on from the governments decision that businesses who cannot work from home should be actively encouraged to go back to work from 13th April 2020, we have made the decision to reopen our Training Centre and be available to run courses. We will be putting in place certain new measures to ensure that we are in line with all government requirements for being COVID-19 Secure in our Training Centre and in how we conduct our training courses, to ensure the safety of ourselves and our customers. Like all other businesses in the UK, we are closely monitoring the current situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how its effects are impacting how we run our business during these uncertain times. We very much respect and support the governments decisions during this time and will continue to do our bit to help overcome the virus during the next few weeks and months ahead. We sincerely hope you all remain safe and healthy during this time and we look forward to welcoming you back to our Training Centre in the near future. This month sees the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) launch its brand new updated version of the MEWPs For Managers training course, which now also includes the new E-Learning module, and brings this course up to date and in line with the already existing Operator course. The MEWPs For Managers course is aimed at managers and supervisors who's work includes or will include planning, supervising and managing of working at height that includes mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) and the operators of this equipment, without them being the person using the equipment themselves. Paul Roddis, Training Manager at IPAF, is quoted as saying about the new course: (Quote from article on IPAF website) “MEWPs for Managers has received a much-awaited upgrade and is also available as eLearning for the first time. This will make it very convenient for project planners, site managers and supervisors to fit this essential training into their busy schedules. As well as the standard Instructor led classroom based course, the course is now also available as an E-Learning module, meaning you can do the course in the comfort of your home or office, in your own time, at your own pace, on compatible PCs and tablets. This makes getting this training completed much easier to fit around the busy schedules which managers and supervisors may have. The E-Learning module also makes use of sophisticated facial recognition software throughout the entire module, including the evaluation, to ensure the delegates identity throughout and to prevent fraudulant activities. RSC Training Director Richard Chapman commented: "The MEWPs For Managers course was long overdue an upgrade to bring it up to date and on par with the Operator course! Its a lot more involved and engaging for those coming along to do the course now and it covers everything a manager needs to know about managing MEWPs in the workplace." Richard added: "The E-Learning option could also prove to be quite popular, as it makes life so much easier for the customer to schedule the training around their own timetables, which saves them taking time out from their normal jobs to complete the training." For further information on this course, please visit our MEWPs For Managers page. Contact us on 0203 794 0798 or [email protected] to discuss your training requirements. RSC Training is pleased to announce that the IPAF Loading/Unloading training course has now been officially added to our list of IPAF courses we can offer.
Although it has always been an option to offer this course, recently our Instructor Richard has also added this to the list of courses he can run, which gives RSC Training much more scope to offer this course to our customers. As the process of loading and unloading of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) can be potentially risky, with about a third of all accidents reported by rental companies to IPAF involving delivery drivers, there is a need to ensure that those persons involved are suitably trained, have access to any relevant information and are following safe practices. For further information on this course, please visit our IPAF Loading/Unloading page. Contact us on 0203 794 0798 or [email protected] to discuss your training requirements. The advancement of technology in the Work At Height sector has been more and more evident in recent times and has now extended into the virtual world.
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) recently showcased their new Virtual Reality (VR) simulator at Intermat 2018 in Paris, France, and then at Vertikal Days 2018 in Donington Park, UK, allowing users to experience operating boom lifts and scissor lifts in a variety of scenarios without their feet ever leaving the ground. RSC Training Director Richard Chapman tried the VR simulator at Vertikal Days and commented on the experience: “I was really looking forward to Vertikal Days this year as I was eager to try the new VR simulator that everyone has been talking about, and it did not disappoint! The graphics and the effects of being in the simulator were so realistic, you really do feel like you are elevating even though you know your feet are still on the ground! I went through a couple of the scenarios available, including completing an entire mock scissor test (which I passed!) and was very impressed with the level of detail and how the simulator identified you immediately of any faults you made.” The technology seems to have been a hit with everyone who has used it, however IPAF are keen to get feedback on the simulator and ways it could be improved. They are actively inviting anyone who has used the simulator to have their say in IPAFs online consultation by filling out a short survey at www.ipaf.org/VRconsultation. Richard added: “It will be interesting to see where this technology goes and how it can be integrated into training and other aspects surrounding Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs). I don’t think it will replace the need for a traditional training course, but it will find its place somewhere.” Not to be outdone by IPAF, the Prefabricated Access Suppliers & Manufacturers Association (PASMA) have also recently launched their own VR simulator for Mobile Access Towers. This was recently on display at the Annual Members Conference in Coventry, UK. Richard commented: "I’ve not yet used the PASMA VR simulator, though I did witness a few others have a go with some interesting and humorous results! People I know who have been working within the industry for many more years than me testing the effects of what falling from a tower would be like, including some physically falling over! It’s a work in progress with PASMA, and I’m sure it will get better and better. As with IPAF, we will wait and see as to where this technology integrates into our industry in the next few years." WernerCo, the US based owner of Boss, have recently launched their updated and improved range of Cantilever towers, including the End-Linked Tower and the Extended End Tower pictured above, as featured in the above article, in to the market.
At RSC Training, one of the Advanced PASMA Training Courses we provide is the PASMA Towers With Cantilevers course, which is aimed at persons who already hold a valid PASMA Towers For Users PhotoID card and who's work includes or will include being responsible for the assembly, dismantling, altering and moving of mobile access towers with cantilevers and how to safely do so without risk of personal injury to themselves or others. As Boss is one of the most well known and well used manufacturers of Mobile Tower Scaffolding, we have therefore chosen to use their equipment on our training courses too. The pictured Extended End Cantilever tower shown above is the tower you can expect to build when attending one of our PASMA Towers With Cantilevers courses at our Training Centre in Woolwich, London. For more information or to book on to a course, contact us on 0203 794 0798 or email [email protected] |
AuthorRichard Chapman Archives
August 2024
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