Recently, four of our operatives have been getting a head for heights, after being trained to operate cherry pickers.
Under the expert tuition of the good people at Darlington-based Braddan Plant Hire and Training, our team members undertook both a theory and practical test – and they all passed with flying colours.
Having received this training, the operatives are now fully qualified to safely use a cherry picker or scissor lift to reach higher areas of the site that may need maintenance or housekeeping.
This is vital in ensuring we maintain a safe working environment, allowing us to clean the higher parts of the warehouse and shredder building, where dust and debris can settle.
Working at height requires a specific set of skills, and it’s important to make sure that all staff have the correct training in using any piece of equipment they may need as part of their role.
The trainees - Aaran Leonard, Dean Hudson, Chris Martin and Stu Wilderspin – were all highly impressed with both the practical training, and the online learning package, which was delivered by IPAF.
It’s not the only training that has been taking part. We’ve recently set up a one-way system to manage the increase in vehicles on site, meaning the trucks no longer have to turn around on site; drivers can load their pallets, return to the office to sort paperwork and then leave the site at the far gate.
To ensure the system runs smoothly, three operatives have also completed banksman training, which means they are fully trained to direct vehicles on site, maintaining safe operating procedures as part of our traffic management plan.
We are also planning in the near future to provide training for more operatives in driving the telehandler and forklift trucks, giving us more flexibility in the roles our operatives can do.
After all, as Henry Ford said: “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
