IPAF

Manual Handling

0017129559 (I DILLEY) — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 14:27:36 GMT

MANUAL HANDLING

MANUAL HANDLING is the handling of loads by HUMAN EFFORT, and can include lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, intentional dropping or throwing or moving, by hand or bodily force.

Poor manual handling is the biggest cause of work-related injury, and the most common site of injury is the back. Back injuries range from sprains of the ligaments and strains in the muscles to more serious injuries such as slipped discs. Other injuries can include hernias, fractures; crush injuries, sprains and strains. All have one thing in common – PAIN!

Back injuries can result from a single wrong movement, but more commonly result from repeated stress on tired muscles.

Learning the correct manual handling techniques is essential in order to prevent injury and accidents.

Employers are required to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that hazardous manual handling operations are avoided. They must assess all hazardous manual handling operations which can’t be avoided, and then implement measures to reduce the risk of injury.

Employees also have responsibilities under Health & Safety Law. These are to:

• Take reasonable care of their own health & safety at work, and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions;
• Co-operate with their employer regarding health & safety;
• Use any equipment provided in accordance with the training and instructions given;
• Follow their employers’ systems of work to promote safety during the handling of loads.

THE BACK

The spine is made up of 33 bones called VERTEBRAE. Each vertebra has 4 joints, which enable them to move with respect to each other, thus giving the spine flexibility. The lower back or LUMBAR SPINE is the weakest part, as it carries the weight of the upper body, and therefore most likely to be damaged.

Between the vertebrae are the DISCS, made up of a jelly-like NUCLEUS, surrounded by a ring of tough fibres – the ANNULUS. The discs are firmly attached to the vertebrae, and act as shock absorbers when the vertebrae move. They have a poor blood supply, and therefore take a long time to heal if damaged.

Damage occurs by repeated stresses caused by stooping and twisting. This produces tiny tears in the annulus, which may lead to the contents of the nucleus bulging out through the annulus – referred to as a SLIPPED DISC.

SAFE MANUAL HANDLING

The back is especially put at risk by bending and twisting movements. When lifting whilst the back is bent or if it twists during the lifting operation, the weight of the load increases the stresses on the body, and especially the back. In order to avoid painful injury and permanent weakness, it is necessary to follow the principles of ‘KINETIC LIFTING’. This involves following a set of actions, beginning with a relaxation of the knees, and the automatic adjustment of foot position. These ‘base movements’ result in balance being maintained through relaxation and natural positioning of the body weight.

1. Look at the Load – Inspect it for size, shape, stability and possible areas to grip. Inspect packaging for any load warning signs.

2. Foot Position – Feet should where possible be hip width apart with one foot in front of the other. The front foot should be placed along side the load, and be pointing in the direction of travel.

3. Bend Knees/Back Straight - By relaxing and bending the knees, the front foot stays flat on the floor, whilst the heel of the other foot is raised. The back cannot be kept perfectly straight, but the natural curve in the lower back should be maintained.

4. Test the Load/Take a Firm Grip – Once the knees are bent the head can fall forward to look at the load and the hands can reach down to touch it. The hands & forearms should be on the inside of the legs. Testing the load should be by gentle rocking to ascertain whether or not it is within the person’s capability.

5. Lift with Legs/Load Close – The start of the lift is the headlock move – gently raise the head and tuck the chin in. This straightens the neck, raises the shoulders and chest and encourages a straight spine during lifting. The rear foot is used to propel the body forward with minimum energy, and as the load is raised, it is pulled in towards the body.

6. Put Down With Care – The load should be kept close to the body during lowering, and the staggered foot position should be maintained.

With practice, this 6-point lift can be carried out in a smooth motion, involving the minimum amount of effort and stress & tension on body structures.

REMEMBER – YOU HAVE ONLY 1 BACK – LOOK AFTER IT!

Please call 01536 202549 for all your manual handling needs

Driver CPC training

0017129559 (I DILLEY) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 16:12:42 GMT

What is CPC Training?

The Driver CPC is a scheme for LGV (and PCV drivers) who drive professionally throughout the UK. It is being developed as a requirement of the EU Directive 2003/59, which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life.

Driver CPC periodic training came a EU regulation on September 10th 2009. All drivers that drive a vehicle over 3.5 tons must complete cpc training to recieve their driver qualification card (DQC) to enable them to continue to drive for a living.

Once you have passed your Initial Driver CPC, you may think that’s it.

Unfortunately that is not the case. Your Driver CPC lasts for 5 years. To maintain your Driver CPC you will need to complete 35 hours of Periodic Training every 5 years, if you wish to continue to drive professionally.

Periodic Training is Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for bus, coach and lorry drivers. It carries on throughout your entire professional driving career regardless of how infrequently you drive.

The minimum length of a training course is 7 hours. The topics covered can range from safe and fuel efficient driving, to defensive driving techniques, first aid, health and safety, drivers’ hour’s regulations and Tacrographs. Courses are designed to ensure all Professional Drivers keep up-to-date with ever changing regulations.

At Universal training services midland ltd we have a variety of different courses that are fun and interactive, we currently offer the following courses.

Tachograph regulations
Emergency First Aid at work
Drivers safety
Health and safety

All the courses are designed to be interactive and fun but also to achieve the results.

For all new drivers since september 10th 2009 they now have to complete the following:

Module 1 - Theory test and hazard perception test
Module 2 - Case study theory test
Module 3- Practical Test
Module 4 - CPC Practical Test

Once all modules have been completed all new drivers also need to obtain the 35Hrs of cpc training over a 5 year period once they have passed Module 4.

At Universal Training all our trainers are HGV drivers so they understand the day to day duties of HGV drivers.

Courses can be delivered at our training venue or at a location of your choice the current costs are £55 plus vat per person but further discounts are added if you require a group booking please contact the office for further detailed quotes.

Call 01536 202549 for any more information or details of our courses.

IPAF

0017129559 (I DILLEY) — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 15:27:06 GMT

MEWP Training

What is IPAF

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) promotes the safe and effective use of powered access worldwide. Set up in 1983, IPAF is a not-for-profit members’ organisation that represents the interests of manufacturers, distributors, users, rental and training companies. It serves as a forum for all active in the world of powered access. IPAF has played a key role in promoting many of the design, safety and testing procedures that are now established in the powered access industry.

Training

The IPAF training programme for platform operators is certified by TÜV as conforming to ISO 18878. More than 100,000 operators are trained each year through a worldwide network of over 600 training centres. Training generally lasts one to two days and is a mixture of theory and practice.

PAL Card

Those who successfully complete IPAF training are awarded the PAL Card (Powered Access Licence), the most widely held and recognised proof of training for platform operators. The PAL Card is valid for five years and shows the machine categories that the operator has been trained in. It also features the holder’s photo and signature, and can be verified by calling IPAF.

Courses Available

Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) courses for:

Categories of MEWP equipment:

Static Vertical (1a, 1a+)
Static Boom (1b, 1b+)
Mobile Vertical (3a, 3a+)
Mobile Boom (3b, 3b+)
Push Around Vertical (PAV)
Insulated Aerial Device (IAD)
Specialist machines (SPECIAL)

Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) courses for:

Mobile Operators
Demonstrators
Installers
Advanced Installers
Instructors

Other courses:

Operators

This course instructs an operator to prepare and safely operate various types of MEWPs.

PAL+

PAL+ is an optional, additional one day of category-specific training aimed at operators working in higher risk or challenging environments.

Demonstrators

This course trains a demonstrator to familiarise operators with their responsibilities and demonstrate pre-operational and safe operating procedures, and the limitations of MEWPs.

Harness Use and Inspection

This course instructs a user to select, inspect and use a harness and associated equipment safely when using a MEWP.

Loading/Unloading

This course instructs an operator in the correct safety procedures for the loading, unloading and securing of machinery prior to or following transportation by road.

eLearning Module for Operator Course

IPAF's new, enhanced eLearning module is part of its full training programme for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). The eLearning module delivers flexibility and interactive tools, with the same emphasis on practical training.

Together with supervised written and practical testing of operator skills, the eLearning module can lead to a PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) which proves that the operator has successfully completed the training and is able to operate MEWPs safely.

Benefits:

Flexible
Trainees complete the theory part anytime, anywhere, on any device, at their own pace
Interactive
Engages trainees with games, quizzes, videos and simulations

Operator eLearning does not replace practical training. Trainees who complete the online session must still pass a supervised theory test at an IPAF-approved training centre and must successfully complete a minimum half-day of practical training and testing before being issued a PAL Card as proof of successfully completed operator training.

What is First Aid?

0017129559 (I DILLEY) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 10:27:33 GMT

In all our lives, whether at work, home or at play, it is essential that we all know how to assist someone who is sick, or has been injured.

First aid, as the term implies, is the initial treatment given to someone who is injured or sick, prior to professional medical assistance arriving and taking over from you.

By completing a first aid course it will not make you a doctor, paramedic or nurse but by applying common sense and some basic life support skills, as well as providing care and confidence in you treatment for the casualty, you will learn skills that will enhance their well-being and in some very serious cases, possibly save their life.

Your prompt, safe and effective treatment could make a difference between life and death.

As a qualified first aider, your priorities for the casualty fall into the following categories:

PRESERVE life

ALLEVIATE suffering

PREVENT further illness or injury

PROMOTE recovery

For instance, if your casualty is suffering a major blood loss as a result of a serious cut,then you can preserve life by offering treatment immediatley and not waiting for proffessional help to sort it out for you.If you do nothing your casualty could bleed to death.

We can prevent the condition from worsening by applying a secure sterile dressing on the injured part in order to control the blood loss and prevent the risk of infection.

We can promote recovery by treating the casualty for shock and ringing for an ambulance.

Our first aid courses at Universal Training Services Midlands Ltd are are fun,interactive and delivered to a very high standard and reasonably priced.

The HSE states that employers have a duty of care to render a first aid need to their employees should they become injured or ill in the workplace.

We deliver first aid courses on a regular basis both at our training venue or at company sites if this is preferred.

August 2016 Blog

0017129559 (I DILLEY) — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 13:04:50 GMT

PASMA Training

At Universal training we have now our own dedicated PASMA instructor,Bob Dilley passed his instructor qualification earlier this month.
The course is a minimum of 6 hours in duration and covers the following elements:

Theory session covering all aspects of safety and all regulations to EN:1004 standards.

The candidates then require to complete a theory test of 30 questions and they need to obtain a minimum of 24 out of a possible 30.

The candidates are then split into groups and will have to build two different mobile towers (3T method and the AGR system)

3T method - through the trap method allows the operative to position himself through the trap of the platform and place horizontal braces ahead of them so that collective fall prevention measures are in place before they stand on the platform.

Advance guardrail system - This method uses a different set of equipment allowing guardrails to be placed ahead of the platform from the safety of the level below,so that collective fall prevention measures are in place before the operative stands on the platform.

The candidates will inspect all components thoroughly following the manufacturers manual the teams then build the towers safely under supervision from the instructor.Once built they will then move and re- inspect the tower . A scaff tag is then completed by all candidates to demonstrate and show each person how to fill in the scaff tag correctly for mobile towers.

Qualification will last for 5 years then a renewal course will be due.

Universal training services midlands ltd can carry out PASMA courses at our training venue or at your company site. If you have any questions please contact us further.