Just because mobile access platform hire through a KwaZulu-Natal company like Sterling Access is convenient and easy doesn’t mean you don’t need to ensure that your operators are properly trained.
Like with any other kind of heavy equipment, operators need to know how to use access equipment safely to prevent accidents. This will not only protect your personnel and property, but it is also necessary to protect your business’s reputation and save you from any potential legal liabilities.
Here are some of the mandatory operator training requirements for mobile access platforms as regulated under South African law, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Driven Machinery Regulation:
TETA-Accredited Certification
South African law requires that all mobile elevating work platform operators be trained and certified through a Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) accredited programme. Many access equipment providers offer these courses.
Such courses will ensure that operators are trained to operate access equipment safely and responsibly. If your employees operate this kind of machinery without the necessary certification, it could put your organisation in legal jeopardy.
Once an operator has successfully completed the TETA-accredited training, they will be issued an Operator Competency Certificate, which is valid for two years. After two years, the operator will be required to undergo a refresher course to renew their certification.
Medical Fitness
Anyone operating heavy machinery needs to prove that they are medically fit to do so. As such, routine medical examinations are required periodically or when required, depending on circumstances. Medical issues that could prove to be a hindrance to safe operation include things like poor vision, hearing impairment, neurological disorders, or serious cardiovascular problems.
Since an operator is not allowed to operate any machinery while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, testing for these substances on a regular basis is a crucial part of ensuring an operator’s medical fitness.
Operators also need to have adequate sleep before operating access equipment. If there is any reason to suspect that an operator is not getting enough rest, they should not operate the equipment. Fatigue can lead to potentially fatal errors.
Thanks to Sterling Access, mobile access platform hire has never been simpler. We have a range of excellent access equipment available in KwaZulu-Natal to suit any requirements. Contact us now to find out more about the access equipment we have available.
