WORKING AT HEIGHT
which exceeds our legal obligations. Our service technicians receive comprehensive WAH, rescue at height and IPAF training as part of their initial induction course. Employees also receive instruction on the use of scaffolding systems, MEWPs and other types of access equipment. The courses are held in our purpose-built training facility at our Banbury plant and are managed and delivered by our dedicated training team. Technicians undergo guidance on WAH regulations, risk assessments, company specific procedures and our Life Saving Behaviours’ values. All our UK service technicians attend regular refresher sessions.
To ensure compliance we hold annual discussions to reinforce safety protocols and provide updates on procedures. We arrange regular managerial site safety audits to monitor our performance and identify areas requiring improvement. We encourage proactive safety reporting through observations and promote open and effective dialogue, including a HSEQ forum, for the exchange of ideas and experiences, helping in our quest for continuous improvement. These initiatives ensure that the company and all employees embrace our positive safety culture and remain compliant with all aspects of our policies on working at height.
Q: ARE THERE ANY PRACTICAL ASPECTS IN YOUR TRAINING?
GMC: We place a strong emphasis on the practical aspects of our WAH instruction to ensure our technicians are comfortable dealing with the challenges they face. Because overhead material handling systems and elevated work platforms are used in such a diverse range of industrial and manufacturing locations, it is important that our technicians are best prepared for any kind of WAH situation.
We simulate ‘live’ working environments, replicating these conditions, at our facility in Banbury which can be used for technicians to experience many different WAH scenarios. For unusual or niche operations we conduct on-the-job training at on-site facilities.
Q: WHAT OTHER SITUATIONS DOES YOUR WAH TRAINING COVER?
GMC: While the primary objective of WAH is to prevent falls, the swift recovery of the victim in the event of an emergency is of critical importance. This can be the rescue of an individual who has fallen from height and is suspended by the harness, when potentially fatal suspension trauma can set in within 20 minutes. It can also relate to individuals who may become stranded on an overhead work platform due to incapacity or illness. In either event it is vital to retrieve the person to ground level quickly and safely.
We create emergency scenarios and provide instruction to allow technicians to assess and implement the most appropriate recovery procedure
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to get the operator to the safety of ground level, which may be via a cherry picker or other access equipment.
Q: HAVE YOU INTRODUCED ANY NEW ELEMENTS INTO YOUR WAH PROGRAMMES?
GMC: Our training courses are subject to constant review to ensure that we are delivering the very latest instruction and advice on safe working. We have initiated a review of Safe Systems of Work, monitoring our performance and aligning our training regimes with industry best practices. We have been promoting a Stop the Drop campaign designed to prevent injury from tools and objects falling from overhead work platforms. We are using digital tools for Point of Work Risk Assessments. We are also placing increased emphasis on behavioural safety training to address human factors contributing to workplace incidents.
Q: ARE YOUR TRAINING COURSES AVAILABLE TO OTHER COMPANIES?
GMC: Yes, all our theoretical and practical training modules are available to other parties. The courses are run by our dedicated team, comprising four WAH qualified and IPAF accredited personnel, headed up by our UK Technical Trainer, James Wall. We run courses at customer premises nationwide or at our facility in Banbury. The training ranges from half-day courses on safe and proper use of PPE and access equipment to three-day programmes encompassing all aspects of WAH, including hands-on practical elements.
Customers often require training to be tailored to their specific operations meaning that courses are rarely the same. We use ‘live’ working environments to ensure that the training regimes are realistic. This is particularly relevant when specific risks are involved, such as workplaces where operators are required to work directly above hazardous areas like waste to energy pits.
We have experienced an increased demand for our training with over 30 courses provided in 2024 and more scheduled for 2025, making WAH training a growing part of our service business. The industry’s appetite for WAH safety is demonstrated by the enthusiasm and interest it attracts. On several courses the training has been undertaken not only by service technicians, but also line managers and directors.
www.konecranes.co.uk
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