Non-profit organisation in US chooses AWPT courses
25 July 2011
The US Institute for Aerial Lift Safety has chosen to adopt training programmes from AWPT (American Work Platform Training) and becomes the only US organisation to provide AWPT training for truck-mounted aerials.
The Institute for Aerial Lift Safety is a recently established non-profit organisation dedicated to providing aerial lift safety training. Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Institute is the first non-profit organization in North America that is focused solely on aerial lift safety training.
Board members include Mark Hinkel, Hinkel Equipment Rental Associates, Lynn Ladenes, Excel Rentals, Gary Riley, American Work Platform Training, Michael Kayes, PSE&G and Bill Mackey, industry consultant. Through better safety education, the Institute aims to improve workers' hazard awareness and that way increase overall workplace safety and decrease the potential for aerial-lift-related incidents resulting in property damage, injury, or death.
Because it is a non-profit organisation the Institute is able to seek grants from private and governmental sources to increase their educational offerings and provide scholarships to individuals that are unable to afford training.
Following a thorough review of the many training programmes available, the Institute selected the AWPT programmes. AWPT is the North American training arm of IPAF (International Powered Access Federation).
Courses offered by the Institute include theoretical and practical hands-on training on scissor lifts, boom lifts and truck-mounted aerials. The Institute is currently the only organisation in North America offering AWPT training for truck-mounted aerials. Following the successful completion of an AWPT programme, the student is awarded a PAL Card (Powered Access License). In the future the Institute also plans to deliver familiarisation specifically designed by Bronto Skylift for operators of their equipment.
The Institute's classroom can accommodate up to 12 students at a time and they have an indoor scissor lift demonstration area and outdoor boom lift and truck-mount demonstration area so that trainees are able to operate the equipment and receive hands-on training. Institute staff are also able to travel to a client's site to administer the AWPT course with advanced notice. In the past few months The Institute has trained over 35 people from Henkels & McCoy, PPL Electric Utilities, and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) in the safe use of truck-mounted aerials.
