Strengthening the French connection at Intermat
24 April 2008
IPAF and OPPBTP (Organisme Professionnel de Prévention du Bàtiment et des Travaux Publics) will cooperate and exchange information with the aim of reducing accidents related to work at height. OPPBTP is the official French government body for accident prevention in the construction industry.
The link-up was made during the Intermat construction show in Paris, where OPPBTP filmed an interview with IPAF Managing Director Tim Whiteman, French representative Bernard Volut, and two OPPBTP safety engineers, Patrice Devaux and Patrick Moutel.
“The IPAF platform operator training programme meets all aspects of the French legal requirements and recommendations,” said Bernard Volut during the interview. “This internationally recognised programme is not only suitable for large rental companies, but also for smaller, occasional end-users, who may not have sufficient access to training and knowledge, but who should be trained to meet legal obligations and to prevent accidents.”
The film also featured the “IPAF Platform Academy” show, which was performed four times a day at IPAF's Intermat demo zone. World high diving champion Oliver Favre and his team of acrobats stopped the crowds with a fast-moving demonstration of how to use platforms safely and correctly.
The IPAF Intermat demo zone was also host to several delegations, who were briefed on PAL Card training. This included about 50 delegates from the Syndicat des Entrepreneurs d'Ile de France (a Paris regional branch of the FFB, Federation Française du Bàtiment, the French National Federation for the Building Industry) and a group of company directors from the Fration Nationale des Socits Coopratives du BTP (the French Federation of Cooperative Companies for the Construction Industry).