The PAL Card is universally recognised as evidence that an individual has been trained to a high standard in operating powered access equipment
Y
ou would not let someone without a driving licence go for a spin in your car. Likewise
it is essential to ensure that anyone who intends to operate powered access equipment is properly trained and accredited. All access machinery is built to be inherently safe, but abuse or improper use can result in accidents, injury and even death. Under the Work at Height Regulations
2005, the Health and Safety at Work Act, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that employees are given adequate training. The most common form of training for
access equipment operators is provided by IPAF-accredited training centres, resulting in the award of a Powered Access Licence (PAL) Card. Each year more than 80,000 people
undergo IPAF training and the PAL Card is now recognised by construction and industrial organisations worldwide as proof of high-quality assessed training for platform operators. Many powered access operators,
unlike their plant or machinery counterparts, may not be driving the machine as their main job. They might be roofi ng contractors, electricians, painters and decorators, cleaners or from many other trades for whom access to work at height is merely a part of their daily employment. PAL Card training therefore covers