You have all your Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) machinery and equipment needs taken care of. Now it’s time to ensure that the staff members that will be operating these platforms are adequately trained. There is so much more to MEWP training than most businesses realise, so make sure you know what the requirements are so your business and staff are adequately prepared for a safe and productive environment.
WHAT IS MEWP TRAINING?
MEWP training involves more than just about learning which buttons built into a platform do what. It’s teaching a potential operator to identify different types of MEWP platforms to use before selecting the best one for the job. It also helps them to assess, prevent and eliminate environmental hazards, conduct thorough inspections before use and to follow the correct shut-down and storage processes afterwards. Most importantly it keeps operators up to date on the latest safety practices, so they can operate in a way that doesn’t pose a risk to themselves or others.
MEWP training won’t just benefit your business but will also allow your staff members to walk away with a recognised and credited National Certificate in this area of expertise.
HOW CAN I TELL IF A MEWP TRAINER IS LEGITIMATE?
Most MEWP training involves meeting the standards outlined by the South African Qualifications Authority. A reputable trainer will able to provide Unit Standard 243272 training and should also be accredited by Services Skills Education Training Authorities and the Institute for Work at Height.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A TRAINER?
Apart from making sure a trainer is accredited and can offer a proper qualification, there are many other aspects you might want to consider. If your business operates using specific machinery, you should enquire whether they offer machine specific training for the platforms (access, aerial work), lifts (boom, man, personnel, scissor or sigma) and booms (articulated, straight, stick or telescopic) you will be using.
Research has shown that the training has proven benefits, and for this reason it makes MEWPs one of the safest ways to perform temporary work at height, with a very low accident rate that hasn’t increased over the years (despite the industry’s constant growth). To find out more about qualifications or questions relating to your equipment, call Sterling Access today, as we can offer you basic familiarisation training before delivery or on site to help you get started.
Related Tag: Scissor Lift Hire
