It is estimated that each year 10% of all investigated accidents involving lift trucks are caused largely by the lack of operator training, resulting in injury to operators and to those around them (Health & Safety Executive (HSE) figures).

Obviously it is in the best interest of companies employing lift truck operators to ensure that their staff have initially been well trained, and are subject to periodic reassessment of their skills and ability. How then, can a company be sure that they are complying with HSE legislation and codes of practice?

The use by an employer of an Accredited Training Provider gives considerable assurance that the training provided will be at least to the standard described in the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice. The HSE’s recognition of accrediting bodies is intended to promote professional and consistent training standards and to help employers select good quality training.

Unfortunately for our industry there are many training companies who operate without any accreditation. A little initial research will go a long way to ensuring that the training company you have selected is accredited. Discovering your mistake after an accident or during an HSE inspection is too late.

Initial questions to ask the training company would be:

Do you use an HSE approved accrediting body? If so, which one? All approved accrediting bodies will have a website – Ask the company for phone numbers and website addresses and do some research.

Can the company prove their accreditation with documentation from the accrediting body? (Beware – there is currently nothing to stop unaccredited companies employing registered instructors – this does not make the company itself, accredited). If you are in any doubt, the accrediting body always has details of their members. A simple phone call to them will clarify the situation.

Does the training company use qualified and experienced instructors only?

Do they follow course syllabuses approved by the accrediting body, and train to their approved standards?

Are they subject to regular monitoring visits by the accrediting body?

Is the training carried out in appropriate premises, which may be a dedicated training centre or an area set aside for the purpose at an employer’s premises?

Is the company quality assessed to BS EN ISO9001:2000?

If the training company can answer ‘yes’ to all these questions and give you information willingly, then the chances of you receiving sub-standard training are considerably reduced.

Train-a-Lift Ltd

Tel: 02476 469027

Email: info@train-a-lift.co.uk

www.train-a-lift.co.uk

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