As part of its on going campaign to raise safety standards within the industry, Nationwide, by far the UK's largest powered access hire company, is continuing to promote its fully accredited fast-track operator training schemes. These cover self propeller scissor lifts and booms, truck-mounted booms up to and over 26-metre platform height, trailer mounted booms and vertical personnel platforms. The courses provide operators with a nationally recognised powered access operator's licence.

Such is the urgency for training in some instances that, from the time first contact is made, Nationwide guarantees to have an operator on an appropriate training course within just three working days. Tuition will then be completed in one to three days, depending on the course content and existing skill and knowledge of the trainee. Courses are often customised to match specific requirements and are available at Nationwide training centres attached to depots across the country. Alternatively, training can be given at any specified site, providing the appropriate facilities are available.

Nationwide's training courses are approved by the CITB [Construction Industry Training Board] under the Certificate of Training Achievement [CITB/CTA], or the IPAF [International Powered Access Federation]. Both are acknowledged to fulfil the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, whereby the employer has a duty to provide an adequate level of training to enable employees to operate equipment proficiently and safely. Nationwide's Director of Services, Taraq Bashir, puts the onus succinctly when he says: "The obligation to train not only extends to those who use the equipment, but also to those supervising or managing them."

He continues: "Nationwide training does more than ensure that our customers meet their legal obligations. Proper training saves time and money; employees are more efficient, they inevitably have higher productivity and they are undoubtedly safer to themselves and others working on site."

Trainees who successfully pass Nationwide's courses are issued with a temporary permit that can be used immediately while waiting for a formal operator's permit from the training scheme administration centre, which is then valid for five years.

Nationwide is part of the publicly-quoted Lavendon Group Plc and is headquartered in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Its hire fleet is twice the size of its nearest UK competitor and all of the company's depots comply with Nationwide's ISO 9002 accreditation. The Group is also a major player in the European powered access market, trading under the name Zooom in Germany, France, Spain and Austria.

END

March 2002 Nat2.030a