Cherry pickers are commonly used at construction sites. A cherry picker is large equipment and can be dangerous if not handled properly. Hence it is important to impart relevant training to workers who use of the equipment.

Accidents caused by cherry pickers

Cherry picker accidents may cause serious injuries to people using the equipment. A common danger faced by workers on cherry pickers is the risk of falling from the height of the equipment. Defective cherry pickers may also lead to accidents and cause severe injuries. Workers are hence advised to wear protective gear while working on cherry pickers.

Training

Cherry picker training focuses on imparting knowledge to workers regarding appropriate use of the equipment. The course aims to teach workers about various safety precautions that may be taken to reduce the risk of falling from the height of the cherry picker. The course encourages workers to undertake safety responsibilities in order to protect themselves and others from potential Cherry picker hazards.

The Health and Safety at Work Act and Work at Height Regulations recommend that a worker working on a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP), obtains the required license before using the equipment.

The Cherry picker courses are approved by IPAF and workers who complete the course get a Powered Access License (PAL). The license is valid for a period of five years.

Course details

The Cherry picker courses can be customized according to the needs of the candidates. Most organizations providing Cherry picker courses provide the facility of providing training at the premises where the equipment is being used by the workers. The course can also be modified depending on the type of equipment used.

For practical training, the organizations ensure that proper facilities are provided and a Cherry picker which has the required LOLER certificate is used. The course deals with both theoretical and practical aspects.

Most training providers offer the convenience to candidates taking up the course, to plan the training session according to their requirements. This ensures that they derive maximum benefit from the session.

After the training, a certificate of competence is usually issued to successful candidates. A Cherry picker license may usually take up to 4 weeks to reach the candidate.

Who should take the course?

It is essential, as per the government norms that every worker who uses static or mobile boom lifts and works on dangerous equipments which have a good height, gets a valid PAL license. The course may be taken up new candidates or by workers looking to renew their PAL license after the expiry of the 5 year term for which it is valid.

Equipments like Cherry pickers, which have a good height, can cause severe loss and injury if proper safety measures are not taken. It is hence important for workers to obtain the required certifications to ensure their safety.