14.02.2013

Genie introduces online operator training

One of the key exhibits on the Genie stand at this week’s rental show in Las Vegas, was a new online operator training programme for aerial work platforms – dubbed Genie Lift Pro.

The online part of the course is interactive and takes around three hours to complete, it is not product or manufacturer specific and is intended to replace the theoretical classroom part of traditional operator training. Only participants who answer 100 percent of the questions correctly can print out a certificate of completion.

To complete the training the individual needs to attend a hands on session, which can be conducted at an approved dealer premises or conducted by the dealer on site. If the ‘student’ demonstrates that the expected familiarity for things such as walk around checks etc…gained from the online course and is able to prove competence in operating the relevant lift, his certificate will be signed by the instructor and he will receive a signed card proving that he has passed the training.
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With online and hands-on training users will have met the requirements to become a qualified aerial work platform operator

The company said: “Upon completion of the online training programme and subsequent hands-on training in front of a qualified person, end users will have met the requirements to become a qualified aerial work platform operator, in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards.”

The Lift Pro programme will be sold to Genie dealers and independents in blocks of ‘seats’ which the dealer or training company can then retail to its customers. The retail price were delegate is expected to be in the region of $290 depending on how many ‘seats’ are purchased at one time.

Mike Samora, director of Terex AWP global marketing, said: “The Lift Pro training programme gives end users the ability to train at their own pace and on their own schedule. This is completely unprecedented in the industry, and we anticipate the programme will potentially increase both productivity and safety on the job site.”

Vertikal Comment

This looks like an alternative to the IPAF PAL card scheme, although the company says that it is not the intention or the case, and that it is intended as an additional effort to improve competency and safety.

As such it is making it available to dealers, training companies and even competitive dealers as long as the company wishing to become an approved Lift Pro trainer is certified as competent to deliver the practical part of the course.

We will cover this new training programme in greater depth in Cranes & Access magazine in March.