17.06.2020

Facial recognition for IPAF

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has added facial recognition to its online operator theory modules.

The use of facial recognition technology, which is already being used as a security measure on IPAF’s MEWPs for Managers online courses, but will now be used with its online operator training courses to ensure only candidates under assessment are able to take the training.

The move follows IPAF’s decision to allow training centres to provide the theory element of the operator courses online following the outbreak of Covid-19. It also allows training centres to increase the number of practical assessments they are able to carry out each day.
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IPAF has added facial recognition to its online operator theory modules

IPAF chief executive, Peter Douglas, said: “Many of our members delivering training are eager to return to offering courses on the scale they were doing before the coronavirus pandemic, but equally they are keen to ensure this is done as safely as possible and in line with the best guidance available to minimise risk of candidates or training centre staff coming into contact with or spreading the virus. We think this new flexibility will be of benefit to our training providers as they look to reconfigure the way they work going forwards, and to bolster confidence that their staff and training candidates have the best range of options to allow them to undertake IPAF training with maximum confidence.”

IPAF’s director of operations, Giles Councell, added: “We have seen how effective the facial recognition technology is, as it has been used in our revamped MEWPs for Managers course since the beginning of 2019. It was a logical step to integrate this additional security measure into the existing IPAF operator theory eLearning module. We hope the changes will help IPAF test centres deal with any training backlog they may have in helping people gain or renew their PAL card.”