IPAF training gets ISO accreditation

IPAF has become the world's first organisation to be accredited as meeting the new international standard ISO 18878.

Leading German certification agency TV audited IPAF's training programme for operators of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms in February and confirmed that it met the standard.

ISO 18878:2004 Mobile elevating work platforms - Operator training (driver) was published in September 2004. The standard was produced by the ISO Technical Committee TC 214, with strong involvement from IPAF. The committee was chaired by Dennis Eckstine, vice president of IPAF's North American subsidiary Aerial Work Platform Training, Inc. (AWPT).

“International standardisation of operator training is a hugely significant step for the industry as well as for IPAF,“ said Kevin Appleton, CEO of leading international hire company Lavendon Group. “It confirms that a PAL Card signifies not only that the holder has received training, but also good training - training certified to recognised international standards. No other scheme has this credibility.“