Date posted: 30.01.17
ABA’s new workplace transport equipment list tackles operator qualification confusion
A new standardised list of workplace transport equipment categories has been released to aid employers and recruiters in identifying operator qualifications, regardless of issuing body. This list has been developed following extensive consultation and discussion between the members of the Accrediting Bodies Association for Workplace Transport (ABA) as a means to support the workplace transport industry as a whole.
“For a long time now the industry has struggled with a lack of uniformity when it comes to naming and categorising equipment, leading to different conventions and terms being used by different accrediting bodies – which in turn has always made it difficult for employers or recruiters to identify exactly what equipment operators are qualified to use,” says Huw Jones, ABA Chairman. “It is essential that employers or recruiters are able to make an initial judgment on an operator’s relevant experience and qualifications with the equipment they are being hired to operate.”
The new grouping codes agreed by the members of the ABA will see a universal system of naming applied across the board, signalling an end to confusing cross body naming systems and making it easy to identify precisely what equipment the operator is qualified to operate.
The new equipment grouping codes will come into use on April 1st 2016. Any certificates or ID cards issued on or after this date will carry the new codes. The full list of equipment names and codes can be found here.
“The standardised list of workplace transport equipment categories that has been developed is just one way that ABA is actively working to make positive changes within the industry and helping to ensure quality, improve safety and drive efficiency for employers, trainers, recruiters and operators,” says Huw.
The ABA was created by AITT, ITSSAR, NPORS and RTITB in 2012 to improve standards and bring clarity to workplace transport training accreditation. The aim of the association is to contribute to a reduction in workplace transport incidents and help employers improve productivity and profitability through training.
Membership of ABA is open to all workplace transport training accrediting bodies. The ABA works for the benefit of the industry, providing clarity, simplicity and transparency in the accreditation arena so all those wishing to join are required to follow a clear code of practice aimed at maintaining high training standards.
To download the new groupings, click here.
