09 February 2010
Andrew Murphy

Health and safety managers are well aware of the dangers employees face at height and many may feel they have taken the steps needed to prevent falls, by enrolling themselves and staff on appropriate training courses.

But there’s been no significant reduction in the number of accidents and fatalities caused by falls from height in recent years, which brings into question the quality and standards of work at height training businesses receive.

Work at height training should be the preserve of specialist professionals, not just another course offered by general industrial trainers. There can be marked differences in the standard and delivery of the training and it is up to employers to make sure they sign up to work at height training that is proven, fit for purpose and properly executed by the provider.

Work at height training is governed by a number of professional bodies and associations. Recognised, professional training companies will usually therefore be members of authorised bodies such as PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers Association), IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) or the Ladder Association, which only allow accredited training centres to deliver approved courses.

PASMA training courses, for example, are based on a format and content agreed by all PASMA members and draws upon their collective first-hand experience. All these governing bodies promote effective work at height training, whether the work involves mobile access towers, powered access or the simple use of ladders or steps.

Any company providing high-quality work at height training will look to ensure the training fits a company’s requirements and tailor its courses accordingly. A good provider, for example, might send instructors to your premises and note the equipment your workers actually use and the environment they work in, to gain a real insight into current working practices and procedures before devising your training.

Theory into practice

As with most industrial training courses, the knowledge needed to work at height safely can be divided into theory and practice. Good courses will combine elements of both.

While theory training in the classroom can provide important lessons, delegates who are not stuck in front of off-the-peg classroom training will also learn far more from being engaged in practical activities, where each example reflects their daily work.

The theory aspects should be tailored to the nature and scope of the work needed to be carried out and the experience and capabilities of the candidates, while covering all the key subject areas. These include height and safety statistics; legal requirements and duties; worker height safety considerations; basic elements of safe working procedures; equipment requirements; and examples of good and bad practice.

Hands on

Focused, practical work is the real key to delivering successful work at height training. Trainees should spend time with instructors gaining essential practice and experience, either individually or as part of a group, allowing them to discuss any issues concerning their own working environment or the equipment being used.

During a PASMA course, for instance, delegates are assessed actually building a scaffold tower, rather than just looking at training slides outlining the techniques.

In an IPAF course, attendees familiarise themselves with the controls of a mobile elevated work platform and are then trained in driving and operating any machine with hands-on instruction.

Employers with large workforces sometimes rely on “train the trainer” systems for industrial training. This can be dangerous practice in such a specialised area as work at height, where the knowledge may not be subsequently imparted correctly.

In summary, the main considerations which should be taken into account when reviewing your current work at height training provider are:

• Is the trainer a specialist professional in the disciplines being taught?
• Does the training course include both theory and practical elements?
• Can the training be tailored to your exact needs and requirements?
• Is your training provider a member of a work at height organisation or governing body such as PASMA, IPAF, or The Ladder Association?
• Does the course contain relevant and up-to-date content?

It’s also a good idea to measure the performance of your training provider, where possible, through independent assessments, referrals, feedback and testimonials from other satisfied customers.

It makes sense to evaluate your current training provider to ensure you are receiving a high standard of work at height training, that way every employee will become part of a culture that promotes safe working practices.

Andrew Murphy is managing director of Boss Training, tel: 0845 6800495.
 

Categories:
Training, Work at height, Article, Features, Training

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