Facelift helps put access machinery to a new aerial challenge, at Intermat Paris

Two highly skilled graffiti artists succeeded in making art from a great height at Intermat - the construction show which took place recently in Paris, from 16 - 21 April. Prior to the event, the two artists, Mr Shiz and Mr Foundry undertook IPAF training at Facelift’s London training centre and both hold the IPAF PAL Cards (Powered Access Licenses). The art work was commissioned by IPAF, as an eye catching celebration of aerial platform safety.

This was a great opportunity to show just how access equipment can be put to use – even to make large scale outdoor art work possible. Working on a boom and scissor lift, the artists managed to spray two 7m x 4m canvasses during six days – despite being challenged by rain and strong winds.

The need for safety at height was shown, with the two artists wearing the ZT harness throughout the work – the ZT Pro Fit, which is designed to be the highest wearing performance trouser and harness. The fabric of this harness has water and dirt repellent properties – just as well given the bad weather – which interrupted the artists throughout their work and forced them to stop and start, grounding the machines at intervals for safety.

Mr Shiz is a native Parisian and a professional graffiti artist, whose style ranges from classic graffiti to impressive photorealism.  He has done artwork for clients such as Channel Four, Just Beats and UEFA, as well as body-painting models for film shoots. Foundry’s work can mainly be seen in public areas, corporate campaigns and international exhibitions and is known for working with an aerosol.

The art created at Intermat can now be seen at JLG Italy and at the Italian training centre Formamentis. You can see the work at Wet Paint Productions (www.wetpaintproductions.co.uk).

Find more information about Facelift Training and the ZT Safety Harness

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Is your ladder course suspect?

In this age where there are so many variations on one thing - you need to be sure that you've got the real deal. When it comes to ladder training courses, don't be fooled by bogus training providers delivering ineffective training. This kind of training won't equip you for anything - least of all when you arrive on-site, without valid proof of competency.

Making sure you're on the right ladder training course

The Ladder Association, (representing all major manufacturers, suppliers and hirers in the UK and Ireland), is advising companies to be careful which ladder training course they send their delegates on - making sure that the course is in fact an approved Ladder Association training course, not just a poor imitation.

According to The Ladder Association training manager, Stuart Hopkins, the association has heard of quite a few cases where a training provider appears to offer a Ladder Association training course to obtain business. However, when it comes to delivering the course, it has different, inferior content and doubtful outcomes. Many of these courses, he explains barely cover the essentials and are not worth anything.

These types of courses lack the credibility that's expected by both industry and health and safety professionals - having booked the training course on the understanding that delegates will receive the service from an accredited trainer, at an approved and audited training centre.

He advises delegates to check the following points beforehand:

- that the course covers all the topics of importance

- is long enough to be thorough

- is limited in numbers to allow people to participate fully

- upon successful completion, provides obvious proof of competence that is valid on-site

- a Ladder Card and certificate of competence

Where you should train:

The Ladder Association training combines theory and practice. On completion of the course, you receive a Ladder Card, certificate of competence and a copy of the Association's Code of Practice, as a reminder of what's been covered.

This course has been informed by the Work at Height Regulations and is based on the expert knowledge of Ladder Association member organisations - people who are fully informed and aware of ladders and surrounding issues.

Added to this, through the Ladder Association training, every delegate is brought up to date on all the latest changes regarding legislation and standards. The Association is on all relevant committees and a new feature is that delegates watch two DVDs, re-enforcing best practice as part of the day long course.

What you should be looking out for:

The official Ladder Association course is proven by the Ladder Association logo, that can be found on both the card and certificate - this is evidence that the user has been trained to the highest standards by the industry trade body. Very often this is the only proof of competence that will be accepted on-site.

Contact Facelift Training Team

 

 

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What is IPAF Training and why do you need it?

When you’re working at height with powered access platforms, hazards are a part of daily life and before you do anything, you must ensure you've taken care of your own safety and those around you. So it’s good to know that a safe working standard has already been established, by the industry body IPAF (The International Powered Access Federation), to help you follow health and safety laws.

IPAF is a leading provider of quality standard training for powered access machinery. IPAF - The International Powered Access Federation and is a not-for-profit organisation that provides vital industry training for powered access equipment. The organisation promotes the safe and effective use of equipment; through providing technical advice and information.

Why do you need IPAF training? 

With ever increasing work at height regulations, you must ensure that as a MEWP operator, you’re trained to use machinery safely and effectively and keep up to date with current legislations. The IPAF training programme for platform operators takes care of this for you and this organisation sees more than 90,000 operators being trained each year, and have in excess of 450 IPAF approved training centres.

The training courses are held at various places around the UK and if you are an employer with lots of staff, a trainer may come to your workplace for the course. Whether you are an operator, instructor or manager - IPAF training is crucial to your understanding and safe use of powered access platforms.

 

What does the training involve? 

All training takes place at approved training centres (mostly manufacturer and rental members of the IPAF) and they set their own course fees. You can expect a high standard of training – (with regular audits by the IPAF), small classes and some courses lasting a couple of days. The courses combine theory and practice and there’s a written and practical test. The IPAF training operators' course covers the use of hydraulic work platforms, scissor lifts, telescopic and articulating booms, van mounted platforms, vertical platforms and truck mounted platforms. What you can expect to learn from a demonstrators course – the ability to carry out the required tasks involved in the role of Demonstrator which is to familiarise operators with their responsibilities and demonstrate pre-operational and safe operating procedure and the limitations of MEWPS.

Here's a list of IPAF courses available;

 

•                IPAF Static vertical personnel platform - one day course

•                IPAF Static boom - one day course

•                IPAF Mobile vertical - one day course

•                IPAF Mobile boom - one day course

•                IPAF Push Around Vertical – half day course

•                IPAF Spider training - two day course

 

Contact our training team for more information on the latest IPAF Training Courses.

 

All levels of IPAF training are covered, with courses specifically provided for operators, demonstrators and instructors. Other IPAF training courses include; harness use and inspection, loading and unloading, and MEWPS for managers. IPAF MEWPs for Managers equips managers with the skills and knowledge they need to deal with changing demands of working at height and use of MEWPs. The IPAF MEWPs Instructor Assessment Programme is a five day course that aims to train people to understand the IPAF training programme (in terms of knowledge of machines and communicating information).

 

Why get an IPAF card? 

When training’s completed, you’ll receive a PAL Card, (Powered Access Licence), a safety guide, log book and certificate. With IPAF training, you’re fully prepared for safe working at height, as IPAF training standards are accepted everywhere, (certified by TUV as conforming to the international standard ISO 18878:2004 Mobile elevating work platforms – Operator (driver) training).

The PAL card is recognised worldwide across industries, as proof of platform operator training (to the highest standard). The card is valid for five years and shows the types of equipment that the owner has been trained to operate, along with the level at which they’ve been trained.

As an operator of powered access platforms, IPAF training will leave you feeling safe and confident when operating MEWPs. As an employer, when all your operators have the PAL card – you’re safe in the knowledge that you’ve covered all legal requirements, provided all necessary training for access equipment and made the whole working process a lot more efficient and productive.

How to get your IPAF training started

You can take an IPAF course either at your own premises, subject to certain criteria, or at one of the IPAF training centres based in Hickstead, Basildon, South London, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and Southampton.

Contact our IPAF Training team for more information

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What is PASMA and PASMA training?

You may well have already come across PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) - a well known industry association focussed on the safe use of mobile access towers and promoting best practice in this area. Made up of a team of experts, the organisation works with other professional bodies to provide essential skills and knowledge, at every level, to the working at height industry. PASMA provides an industry standard tower training course for mobile access towers and in some cases is the only proof that’s accepted for working at height. Thousands of people attend this course each year, at a number of PASMA approved training centres.

 

Why you need PASMA training

With the IPAF training underway, you might ask what is the need for further training provided by PASMA? The answer is simple - in many cases, you won't be able to do anything with a mobile tower, before first showing a PASMA card. This card represents best practice and safety when working at height and is recognised wherever you go. With falls from height accounting for half of all workplace deaths in the UK, it's not surprising that there are strict health and safety regulations to adhere to. According to the 2005 Working at Height Regulations, anyone working at height must prove that they are fully competent in use of work at height equipment. The PASMA card is proof of competency when using mobile access towers.

 

Proof of competency

Competent to a legal standard means more than the ability to assemble and dismantle a mobile tower, although this is a basic part of the standard PASMA course. You need to have sufficient knowledge and experience to carry out duties, understanding potential hazards and detecting any technical defects in the equipment, for a start.

 

Beyond this, there are other working at height competencies that you must have according to The Advisory Committee on Work at Height Training. This includes things like; understanding the Work at Height regulations, the principles of fall protection, recognising safe/unsafe situations, checking the safety of equipment, understanding correct storage methods and much more. Now it's clear to see the need for an industry body like PASMA guaranteeing the above, keeping you well informed and up to date, to work safely and productively.

 

Potential hazards

Not to mention there's a whole list of potential hazards that you face daily when working at height and you need to have the knowledge to deal with these if and when they arise.  Hazards can result from many sources and some will be out of your control, that you must be prepared to deal with - such as instability from the wind, falling objects and strikes by vehicles, so it's important to be prepared. You'll be taught methods to improve stability and deal with hazards.

 

Step up the ladder

PASMA training makes sense - working safely at height comes down to knowledge and skills - the better informed you are, the safer you and other workers will be. Added to this - PASMA training helps you gain better prospects in the long run in your working at height career.  The more knowledgeable you are, the better your chances of career progression in the industry and as an operator you'll have the grounding to possibly progress to a supervisor and manager.

 

What you can expect to learn in the standard PASMA training course

Through doing this one day course, you’ll learn how to safely put together, use, inspect parts and take apart aluminium or fibreglass mobile access towers. Everyone on this course has to erect and dismantle a tower, carry out an inspection and sit a test paper. After the course, you'll also have a more in depth understanding of the legal issues around working at height with mobile towers, product standards relating to equipment and knowledge of potential hazards.

Other more specialist PASMA courses

PASMA also delivers a range of specialist courses; including low level, working at height and towers for managers. 

The Combined Low Level Access and Towers for Users course is a one day course.  The course involves both theory and practical, including how to safety assemble, dismantle and relocate low level access units and standard mobile access towers without risk of personal injury to the delegate or others.

The Low Level Access course is just a half day course, aimed at staff working from units of less than 2.5 metres high. The course involves both theory and practice; including how to assemble, dismantle and move mobile access units, without risk to yourself or others.

The Towers for Managers course is a one day course for managers and supervisors responsible for overseeing work. This course is to ensure that working at height using mobile access towers is properly planned and organised and those that are involved on- site are competent and well trained.

The PASMA Work at Height essentials course is a good introduction if you don't know much about working at height. The half day course provides crucial information on the use of mobile access towers and use of all forms of access equipment.

 

When you reach the end of the course

Following the course, you’ll receive a course content booklet and PASMA Code of Practice, together with a PASMA certificate and photocard for the relevant level that's valid for 5 years. With both IPAF and PASMA training done, you can be sure that you’re officially ready for working at height and to tackle any on-site challenges. As an operator, you'll have a better understanding of how to work safely and as a supervisor you're equipped with the skills needed to supervise more effectively.

 

Get started:

View all PASMA Courses available.

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€1200 Prize - Photo competition ends 29th February

Access International and IPAF are launching a photographic competition to run alongside this year’s IAPAs (International Awards for Powered Access) – Access Photograph of the Year.

Generously sponsored by UK rental company Facelift, we are looking for a photograph that is not only a great picture but is thought-provoking and promotes the industry.

It must be a photograph of a real job, and remember, we are looking to show best practice, so all relevant safety procedures must be demonstrated.

We know that you are undertaking interesting work every day and this is your chance to not only show your expertise to the world, but also win yourself €1200 (or equivalent in your national currency).

The competition is not open to professional photographers or the media, and the prize will go to the individual operator, site worker, service engineer, delivery agent, trainer, trainee or manager who takes the best picture.

The photograph must be of a reasonably high resolution – so probably best not to take it on your phone. Access International and IPAF will be allowed full use of any entered photographs.

Photos should be submitted by e-mail to Access International’s Maria Hadlow maria.hadlow@khl.com. Please also provide some basic information about the photo (including, if possible, when taken, what project, what machine, owner of platform, client in the job).

The photographs will be judged by the same panel judging the other IAPA entries, but you have until 29 February to submit your picture. The photograph should have been taken in the period between January 2011 and the closing date 29 February 2012.

So, make sure you and your team have a camera with them at all times to take The Access Photograph of the Year!

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ZT Safety Harness adopted as highest standard for rail safety

Facelift has provided ZT Harnesses and training on site at the Network Rail Farringdon Thameslink Project to support their vision for achieving the highest standards of Health and Safety.

Connecting East and West London the programme will be the largest addition to the south east rail network in 50 years, with the main construction works to be complete in 2017. Health and safety management is critical to the success of the the Network Rail Farringdon Thameslink Programme as it aspires to build Crossrail in a way that achieves exemplary levels of Health, Safety and Environmental performance with safety as of absolute paramount. 

The ZT Safety Harness was introduced to companies working on the Crossrail Programme by Bruce Lever, of Facelift's Rail Division, who has been actively promoting the benefits of the harness to the rail industry. The ZT Rail Harness is the only harness on the market developed specifically for the rail industry, the harnesses supplied were full body flame retardant coveralls, with flame retardant harness built in, FR standards in line with EN531, EN ISO 11612:2008, EN1149-5:200.

The key features that appealed to the client were the harnesses usability and the elimination of risk from fall suspension trauma compared with a standard 5 point harness.

As part of Facelift's full service, IPAF MEWP harness inspection and fitting training was provided for six delegates on site at Crossrail's Farringdon location in central London.

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IPAF Training more than 100k in 2011

A record number of 101,457 people completed an IPAF training course in 2011. Training available from IPAF-approved centres includes operator courses for which a PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) is issued, and management courses for which a certificate is issued. Contact us for more information on new IPAF Training Courses.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) issued a record 97,488 PAL Cards worldwide through its approved training centres in 2011, an increase of about 13.9% over the 85,605 PAL Cards issued in 2010.

A valid PAL Card is proof that the cardholder has been trained to operate powered access equipment safely and effectively. PAL Cards are valid for five years and can be verified online at www.ipaf.org. IPAF’s PAL Card operator training programme is certified by TÜV as conforming to ISO 18878.

Slightly more than half of all IPAF-approved training centres are now outside the UK and the Federation says that there are currently close to 400,000 valid PAL Cards in circulation.

At the end of 2011, IPAF had nearly 900 members worldwide. More than half the membership is now based outside the UK, and membership continues to grow in places such as the US, Brazil and South East Asia.   

“The economic outlook is still signalling caution but I am delighted to report that IPAF members have set another record for safety,” said IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman. “We congratulate all members, contractors and training centres for their support and recognise all who contribute to the success of this industry-led voluntary training programme.”

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HSE reports a drop in falls from ladders

For the second year running, figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that the number of injuries involving the use of ladders and stepladders has fallen from 2132 in 2007/08 to 2011 in 2008/09 and 1817 in 2009/10. This despite an average overall increase of 51 per cent in the total number of falls from height reported to HSE over the same period. 

The figure of 1817 compares with 2631 ladder-related injuries reported to HSE in 2001/02, a drop of 31 per cent.  
     

According to the Ladder Association, no one single initiative is responsible, but rather a combination of initiatives driven by the association itself and in collaboration with other agencies, in particular HSE and the Access Industry Forum (AIF), of which it is a founder member.

“Whatever the sceptics may say, it cannot be denied that these welcome statistics coincide with a significant increase in the number of users successfully completing a Ladder Association training course,” comments Chris Ball, chairman of the association. “Since the training scheme was first launched in November 2005, the year-on-year increase, after an initial exponential growth in the first few years, has been consistent at around 25 per cent for the last couple of years.”  

“We have constantly promoted the message that if it’s right to use a ladder, use the right ladder and get trained to use it safely", and that message finally seems to be getting through, especially when it’s supported by campaigns like Don’t be a ladder lightweight aimed at experienced ladder users with a jaundiced view of training.”

“We are also the first to acknowledge that HSE’s Ladder Exchange has had a major impact in raising awareness and understanding of the need to inspect and maintain ladders and stepladders to keep them safe for use. Actively supported by the association since its launch in 2007, the campaign has helped remove thousands of ‘dodgy’ and damaged ladders from the workplace.”

“The Ladder Exchange has proved to be an excellent example of what can be achieved when the trade body, the regulator and the industry at large work towards a common goal.”

“Neither can the work of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) be overlooked. Since 2004 it has provided an effective platform for the Ladder Association to address a wide and varied audience at events like the Safety & Health Expo and the IOSH Conference and Exhibition. These have all contributed to driving home the association’s message about safety and best practice.”      

“In tandem with other organisations, the association is making a difference. Promoting the need for training to hardened ladder users was never going to be easy. It’s an educational process and that takes time. However, we’re making measurable progress and the statistics seem to underline that.”

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The Great Indoors!

With the English Winter upon us, and with it shorter daylight hours and more hazardous conditions, it makes sense to carry out your Safety Training indoors.   

We have seven training centres around the country, three of which have full indoor training facilities providing IPAF Operator Training, PASMA Tower Training and Ladder Training. The centres located at East Croydon, Birmingham and Newcastle, are fully equipped with all the equipment required for successful training, and with lunch provided you can focus all efforts on your chosen course. Facelift is the largest independent provider of IPAF training in the UK, and has conducted IPAF training to more than 25,000 candidates since becoming an IPAF accredited training centre in 2002. Our comprehensive training courses include all IPAF courses to Instructor Assessment level and these are also complemented by our PASMA and Ladder Association Training courses.  

Contact us for dates and more information, and complete your safety training without getting your feet wet. 

Contact us for more information on the new IPAF Training Courses.

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Spread the Load!

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) launched a new safety campaign at APEX, calling for the proper assessment of ground conditions and the correct use of stabilisers, outriggers and spreader plates. 

What is 'Spread the load'?

IPAF’s “Spread the load!” campaign is built around this simple and straightforward message:

Spreader plates should always be used with boom-type mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) when fully supported on their outriggers. 

Spreader plates should be used with all other MEWPs that have outriggers unless a risk assessment indicates they are not necessary.

The campaign is an initiative from the IPAF UK Hire Committee’s Spreader Plates Sub-Group. Several campaign tools, available in different languages, have been developed to spread the message, including leaflets, posters, stickers and a video.

Why is this campaign needed?

MEWPs are generally very safe and stable. However, incorrect set-up can cause instability and lead to overturning. This is often the result of inadequate ground assessment, poor selection of spreader plates, or incorrect positioning of outriggers. The ‘Spread the load!’ campaign sets out to give clear and practical guidance on when and how to use spreader plates.

 

 

Download the poster here

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