The International Powered Access Federation, the parent organization of Aerial Work Platform Training, last week announced six new members: Admar Supply Co., Rochester, NY; Bil-Jax, Inc. Archbold, Ohio; Fraco Products, St. Mathias, Quebec; Midwest Aerials & Equipment, St. Louis; NES Rentals, Chicago; and Northeast Work Platform Training, Boston.
IPAF is the worldwide not-for-profit organization that exists to promote safe and effective use of powered access equipment. Members include manufacturers, distributors, equipment owners and rental companies. AWPT is the organization that administers IPAF’s North American training programs. Members of IPAF are eligible to open an AWPT accredited training center after meeting the accreditation criteria.
While both IPAF and AWPT are dedicated to providing comprehensive training in the safe use of aerial work platforms and mast climbing work platforms, neither organization performs the actual training, which is done by those members of IPAF who have met stringent requirements and are certified as Authorized Training Centers.
NES has been approved as an AWPT Authorized Training Center for aerial work platforms and is planning on opening multiple training centers in key metropolitan areas; and new member Midwest Aerials & Equipment has applied to open an aerial work platform training center in St. Louis.
Fraco Products and Northeast Work Platform Training, along with current IPAF members Alimak Hek and Mastclimbers LLC, both of Atlanta, are opening or already have opened AWPT Authorized Training Centers for mast climbing work platforms. Other new training centers are also in the works.
AWPT training is tailored by experts to meet state and federal requirements for operator training and includes a mixture of theory, practice and testing to assure that the training is understood and can be applied. Graduates of the program receive a Powered Access Licensed-Registration (PAL) card that is universally recognized and indicates that the recipient has been trained and is qualified to operate a specific piece of equipment.
Because of the quality and consistency of AWPT training programs, the Scaffold Industry Association recognizes and promotes the PAL card as proof of training in the safe use of aerial work platforms and mast climbing work platforms. SIA also encourages its members to consider becoming Authorized Training Centers.
