The only way is up
April 1st 2008 Under the 'Work at Height' Regulations, employers have a duty of care to ensure work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. Specifying suitable equipment for a job and ensuring operators are adequately trained form part of these obligations. AFI Uplift's Brian Parker puts HSM Editor Georgina Bisby through her paces on an IPAF operator training course
I'm generally up for a challenge, but when AFI-Uplift invited me to take part in its IPAF operator training course I have to admit I did think twice. The one day course covers the operation of a self propelled boom and a scissor lift, and, if successful the trainee leaves with a PAL card – proof that they have been adequately trained in the use of the access equipment.
Now I'm not scared of heights, so that wasn't an issue, but being responsible for manoeuvring large and potentially quite dangerous pieces of machinery wasn't something I felt was going to come naturally.
The day started with a comprehensive theory session, addressing latest legislation relating to working at height and factors to consider when in an operating situation including: ground conditions, PPE selection, maintenance checks, carrying weight and even checking the wind condition.
For some on the course this was just a re-cap (the PAL has to be renewed after five years) but for first timers like myself it was completely new. The theory was interspersed with case studies and footage from real life situations where powered access has been misused – in some cases with devastating consequence. This helped to emphasise the risks that could be in encountered in a variety of situations.
The theory session led up to a test at the end of the morning which we had to pass before we could move on to the practical part of the course. When we first sat down in the classroom, the general consensus among the rookies was that we didn't have a hope of passing but it was surprising how quickly this turned around. A mixture of presentations and discussion based learning kept the classroom session lively and while there was an emphasis on the grave consequences of ignoring the course's lessons, the learning atmosphere was generally relaxed.
By the end of the morning we were all out on the forecourt, having passed our theory, and were ready to start practising for the afternoon's practical test. This was where the importance of having a thorough theory session really became apparent. Once you have been shown the basic operation for the machines, you instinctively want to get on and just start driving them but the hazards highlighted by the morning's lessons make you stop and think. Apart from the importance of giving the machine a thorough maintenance check, attaching yourself to the lift with a harness and checking for hazards in the ground and the surrounding area are vital, yet surprisingly unnatural actions that must be carried out before starting a task/job.
With an hour or so to practice the practical side of the course before lunch and a further hour after, most of the guys on the course felt they had more than enough practice by the time it came to the test and were looking generally confident and relaxed. The test included moving the machine on the ground, propelling the boom and collecting an item from a point at height I can't say I shared the confidence shown by others so I was particularly pleased when it came to the practical test and I was highly commended for my performance on the self-propelled boom.
Apparently my smooth operation had put others to shame. So it's official I am a smooth operator. This glory was short lived because when it came to the scissor lift test the manoeuvres proved slightly more complex. Aside from raising and lowering the scissor which was easy enough we had to reverse through a slalom course of cones. I gave this my best shot but once I found myself with the wheels of the scissor lift at right angles to the direction I wanted to go and no real understanding of how to manoeuvre myself out of the situation – I decided to call it a day.
The verdict
Naturally I was disappointed that I failed the second test, but I am not going to be a PAL operator any time soon and the fact that the test wasn't a cakewalk gives the course more credibility. There are courses which sell you bits of paper and there are courses that genuinely help to promote safer working practices. This was the latter, I just needed more practice, possibly without an audience – honest... More articles from AFI-Uplift Limited: | 
