Capital Equipment News December 2022

the Covid pandemic abated, employers have been invested in ‘doing the right thing’ and ensuring that workplace safety matters are firmly on the company agenda. While it is the employer’s legislated responsibility to ensure that their employees’ safety and well-being at work are considered, many studies have proven that over the longer term, this also has a positive effect on productivity.” employees the skills to work at heights. Not only is it a complex and stimulating job, but the skills can also be beneficial for individuals who can take on roles, allowing them to climb to new positions. While health and safety training might seem like a tick box exercise employees can complete online, up to 70% of Dekra’s work at heights training is practical. Having a mix of theory and practical experience gives learners the edge. “We try to keep sessions between 7 and 8 hours a day. This generally includes group activities, and breakaway sessions, with approximately 30 per cent of the course being theoretical and 70 per cent practical. It should be noted that acquiring one credit is usually equivalent to receiving around 10 hours of training,” he says. The practical component in completing work at heights training includes a visual inspection of the harnesses and inspections of the serial numbers. “We also carry out a test on actual scaffolding to allow our learners to experience a real-life working-at-heights scenario. This monitors the mindset of individual learners: including gauging their physical and mental resilience and tolerance levels at different heights,” adds Mörsner. This allows the trainers to monitor the tolerances of the different learners. “When certain physical signs are present at a particular height, for example, this indicates that the person should be removed from the environment with immediate effect because they pose a threat to themselves and their colleagues. We, therefore, carry out practical and visual determinations to evaluate the individual at different heights.” heights course will be able to describe the requirements concerning working at heights. The competency includes knowledge and understanding of the requirements applicable to performing work in elevated positions, inspecting, caring for and storing fall arrest equipment effectively and the safety, health and environmental Rising to the challenge That positive effect can be due to specialised training, such as giving Investing in knowledge Learners who complete the work-at

Dekra Industrial MD Johan Gerber congratulates Christopher Mörsner, Dekra IOL’s Head of Training and Consulting, on their significant business growth and new premises.

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Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and significant injuries across many sectors, including engineering, construction, mining and industrial environments

30% of the course is theoretical and 70 per cent practical

Practical components in completing work at heights training includes a visual inspection of the harnesses and inspections of the serial numbers

The VR training programme offers self-paced learning and can be accessed using virtual reality headsets and a laptop

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS DECEMBER 2022

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