Calls for training at “all levels”
Published: 08 July, 2011
Lavendon Group Chief Executive Kevin Appleton has joined forces with industry counterpart Carlos Fernández Araoz, chief operating officer of Spanish rental company GAM, to champion high quality powered access training.
They gained their PAL (Powered Access Licence) Cards, gaining recertification in Kevin’s case, by successfully completing IPAF operator courses 3a (mobile vertical, scissor lift) and 3b (mobile boom, self-propelled boom).
Kevin Appleton said: “Keeping up to date with the latest training methods and enrolling in basic IPAF training courses is vital to working at any position in the powered access industry. It is important that all levels of the business understand how powered access works.”
Carlos Fernández Araoz said: "I found the training very useful, especially the practical, hands-on session. I strongly recommend the PAL Card training to those who regularly use and operate platforms.”
The industry leaders were trained at a dedicated IPAF training centre based at one of Lavendon’s 43 UK depots – Nationwide Platforms Leicester – where they were joined by IPAF chief executive officer Tim Whiteman.
The training courses were delivered by Mark Robinson, external training manager at Lavendon Access Services, and took all day to complete. They included a standard theory session, a written test, which they both passed with flying colours, ending with practical assessments of operating skills and abilities on both scissor and boom lifts.
Kevin Appleton said: “The 3a and 3b operator training courses are both thorough and thought provoking. I would advise anyone to enroll on a course before using any form of powered access and Lavendon will certainly continue to build on the fantastic working relationship we have with IPAF and promote their range of courses.”
IPAF's PAL Card operator training programme is certified by TÜV as conforming to ISO 18878. More than 80,000 PAL Cards are issued each year through a network of more than 400 IPAF-approved training centres worldwide. The PAL Card is proof of training and shows that the holder has been trained to operate powered access equipment safely and effectively.
For further information please visit: http://www.ipaf.com/
