Category: Training

IPAF Training – Make sure you’re in safe hands with a MEWP rescue plan

By Ian Moorhouse, IPAF Instructor

Work at height should never be taken lightly, as there’s the potential for heavy consequences if you use a MEWP without taking the necessary precautions. In IPAF training – such as the 3a & 3b course for boom and scissor lifts – it’s important you learn how to recognise hazards to ensure your operator’s safety. Whether that’s assessing your ground conditions, preparing for work near overhead power lines, or ensuring you have the correct PPE – including harnesses, preparing for an emergency or machine malfunction  is critical to your work at height. Read more “IPAF Training – Make sure you’re in safe hands with a MEWP rescue plan”

IPAF Training – Wearing harnesses at height with MEWPs

By Damian Edge, IPAF Instructor

Working at height with a MEWP is secure and reliable – but only if you put your safety first and follow the necessary precautions. While there’s no legal requirement for wearing harnesses at height, they’re strongly recommended – particularly for boom lift operators – to help protect you from fatal falls.

If your platform swings, jolts, or tilts unexpectedly away from your machine’s centre of gravity your operator can suffer whiplash or even be flung from the basket. And the higher you are, the faster you’ll be thrown. Read more “IPAF Training – Wearing harnesses at height with MEWPs”

Plans to introduce IPAF training online | e-learning

Cautious welcome for IPAF training online – but more details needed

By Ben Hirst, Managing Director

Moves to introduce an IPAF training module online could prove a real boost to safe work at height practices as long as safety – not profit – is the driving force behind the planned changes.

If an e-learning option from IPAF means customers get more time for the practical elements of MEWPS training – the hands-on, up in the air, learn as you do bits – and more rigorous, flexible and convenient training that improves site safety, then it’s a no-brainer.

IPAF online training opens up alternative methods of delivering education. It has the potential to take work at height training to a new level and could mean training centres like our own in Warrington and Wakefield could reach even greater numbers.

It’s important to highlight that this type of e-learning is designed to enhance, not replace, practical at height training. On completion of the online module, trainees would still need to attend an IPAF-approved training centre where they would take the practical element of the training in the form of a half day-long course. Read more “Plans to introduce IPAF training online | e-learning”

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you

At Horizon, our company ethos is to treat others as we wish to be treated; it’s the reason why we put such a premium on providing an excellent, straight-talking and supportive service to all our customers from start to finish. We think customer satisfaction is what you deserve.

We know our clients find us easy to do business with, value our flexible approach and the way we respond to their changing needs, and always go the extra mile to ensure they have the right tools for the job and the training they need to meet their own customers’ needs.

We also pride ourselves on our ability to listen – closely – and when you told us recently that you would like a single, named individual to speak to every time you deal with us, we responded by creating a brand new team of Relationship Support Managers (RSMs).

Our RSMs have already proved extremely popular. They are there to get to know your business, deal with all your hire and training needs as quickly and efficiently as possible, and take care of things on your behalf, so you don’t need to get involved in the detail. If your RSM promises to do something, you can be sure that they will deliver. Read more “Getting to know you, getting to know all about you”