IPAF Enriching IPAF’s quality site assessment across the globe.
At a glance.
Key benefits.
A fully branded learning experience consisting of 10 modules, all geared towards engaging health and safety training.
Read time.
3 mins.
Products & Services.
Data collection and analysis, upskilling, mobile learning.
Outcomes.
More effective site assessment for IPAF’s global workforce.
Background.
Sponge is a long-term digital training partner to the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), globally recognised leaders in training programmes and accreditation in the powered access industry.
IPAF promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment in the widest sense – through providing technical advice and information, influencing and interpreting legislation and standards, as well as through safety initiatives and training programmes. IPAF is a not-for-profit organisation with over 1,400 members in over 70 countries.
As the ultimate goal of IPAF is saving lives and preventing injuries, IPAF promotes comprehensive and quality operator training globally, throughout the powered access industry. After the success of IPAF’s Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) Operator Training Course, the need for a new learning experience was identified. This training need led to the creation of the IPAF Site Assessment (for MEWP Selection) Training Course, available as both an elearning course and a blended option with instructor-led training.
Challenges of developing the IPAF Site Assessment training course.
Every year, on average 77 ‘lost time incidents’ are logged through IPAF’s Accident Reporting Portal. This data identifies areas of training to be addressed in order to support safe use of powered access equipment.
From this data IPAF identified the need for a detailed and thorough Site Assessment training course, to provide a solution for this challenge. For example, selecting the wrong MEWP for the job has emerged as the root cause of many ‘lost time incidents’, so a methodology that would engage and challenge decision makers – MEWP selectors – was required.
The target audience of this training course consists of rental company sales staff, already qualified MEWP operators, valid IPAF PAL Card holders, supervisors, health and safety professionals, and managers with a valid MEWPs for Managers qualification. These candidates have a necessity for a tool they can use every time they select a MEWP, and that tool has to incorporate a lot of information in small, memorable chunks.
Great course. Easy to follow. It made me think about situations I'd forgotten about.
Connor Hunt,
trainee, IPAF.
Conclusion:
Great planning and conducting a thorough site assessment are key elements in bringing the number of ‘lost time incidents’ down. Selecting the right MEWPs based on that assessment can save lives, prevent injuries, and ensure that the company conducting the work has what they need to complete the work safely, to schedule and to budget.
Working with Sponge was a real pleasure, and despite completely working remotely on this project, we had high transparency throughout the entire venture.
Paul Roddis,
Training Manager, IPAF.
91%
Of those trained felt the training was ‘very’ or ‘reasonably’ clear.
72%
Of those trained said the activities the training contains are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ efficient.
