Workplace transport - training saves lives

18 October 2007

Every year, a significant number of people are killed or injured by accidents involving vehicles in the workplace and sadly 2007 has been no different. Not only are people damaged, so is property, profit and company morale.

As well as making structural changes, barriers, pedestrian crossings and so on, training and awareness in the appropriate use of vehicles will reduce incident levels.

Managing the risks
The HSE recommends that the same standards, or higher, be applied to workplace drivers, as are applied to those allowed to drive on public roads. Every driver, and particularly younger or less experienced drivers, should be instructed to drive and work in a responsible and careful manner.

Drivers should be capable of operating the vehicle and related equipment safely, and should receive appropriate instruction and training. Employers and managers should never allow anyone who is unfit through drink or drugs (even if they are prescribed) to drive any vehicle.

Training drivers
The training requirements will depend on an individual’s experience and the type of work they will be conducting. A risk assessment should help determine the level and amount of training required for each task. Newly recruited drivers will usually have the greatest training needs, but you should have an ongoing programme of training and refresher training for all drivers, to ensure their continued competence in a changing workplace.

For new employees, it is important to check the information given about work experience is true. For example, check that references to training schemes are supported by certificates. Check employees abilities on site, even when they produce evidence of previous training or related work experience.

Always check that trainees understand what they have been told. Keep training records for each employee. Consider keeping a central register of who in your workplace is competent to control which vehicle. This will make safely allocating tasks and keeping track of abilities much easier.

The Health and Safety People offer a range of training courses to assist you with your driver training requirements.

Our Vehicle Banking training is carried out at your site for up to 10 delegates and the course would be conducted over half a day. The price, per course, is £400 for up to 10 people.

We can also provide 360°/180° Excavator, Dumper, Dump Truck, Lorry Loader and/ or Ride on Roller training. This can be a CITB or Health & Safety People Limited (THSP) accreditation. The duration of the training will depend upon the experience of the delegates. Training starts from £600 per day with a maximum number of four assessments (CITB) or six delegates (THSP) per day. If you work on Major Contractor
Group sites (eg. Skanska, Kier, Bovis etc.) we recommend that you undertake the CPCS training.

The Fork Lift Truck and/or Telescopic Handler training we offer carries an ITSSAR or CITB CPCS accreditation. The duration for experienced delegates who meet the candidate criteria is one day of assessments for either 3 (ITSSAR) or 4 (CITB) delegates. The training would have a five day duration for novices under the CITB accreditation and a two or three day duration (depending on the previous experience of
the delegate) under the ITSSAR accreditation. Prices start from £600 per day. Please contact us to discuss the CITB candidate criteria.

We can offer three different accreditations for Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWPs) training, namely CITB CPCS, IPAF or Health & Safety People Limited (THSP). The duration of the training will depend upon the experience of the delegates. Our day rate for this training is £600 and IPAF training costs from £195 per
delegate, per day. If CITB CPCS training or assessments are booked then CITB registration fees will be incurred. The maximum number of delegates varies from 3 to 6 depending upon the training accreditation required.

For those who drive cars, Our DriveSafe Defensive Driver training is carried out using your vehicle for 2 delegates and the course would be conducted over a day. This is a fabulous course that all THSP drivers undergo, we believe that it has made a difference to our accident rates and this will be reflected in our insurance rates. The price is £350 for the day.

Please have a look at our website for full outlines of every course available and our public course dates at www.healthandsafetypeople.com. Click on ‘Training’ at the top of the home page and then click on either the ‘Course Outlines’ or ‘Public Course Dates’ links.

NOTE: All prices are exclusive of VAT. All prices are based around on site training situated in England, not Scotland, Wales or Ireland, please contact us for additional costs to cover these areas. All of our courses that have a duration of one day or more and refer to one subject are applicable for a CITB grant, unless otherwise stated. Any dates quoted may be subject to change and should be booked as soon as possible in
order to secure the date. No training will take place without a signed sales order having been received. If you verbally book training and you do not receive a sales order within three working days, please contact me immediately. If you require any further information or would like to book a course, please do not hesitate to contact us on 08456 122 144.