More than half of workshops missing out on training

Employees in one in five vehicle workshops have received zero formal training on how to operate mobile heavy-duty lifts, and in a further 38% some but not all have received training, despite widespread acceptance of the importance of training for both safety and efficiency.

That’s the surprise finding of a recent survey of attitudes towards training amongst workshop managers across the coach and bus, commercial and specialist vehicle industries.

Carried out by the UK’s number one supplier of heavy-duty vehicle lifts, TOTALKARE, the survey found that nearly 85 per cent of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that formal training can help staff work more efficiently, as well as more safely.

Tim Jackson, TOTALKARE Managing Director, commented: “Whilst it’s shocking that there is still a minority of workshops that have not undertaken any formal training on the use of their lifts, at least the message about the importance of training is beginning to get through.

“It is also i encouraging to note that more than eight of ten respondents agreed that some training was necessary to comply with health and safety legislation.”

The survey was carried out in June 2016 with almost 100 workshops participating in the survey. Of these, 38% were from the coach and also represented were the bus sector, logistics, the waste and recycling industry and the specialist vehicle sector.

Other key findings included:
• Training delivery on site was important or very important for 92 per cent of workshops considering heavy-duty lift training.
• More than three quarters (78.5 per cent) believed minimum cost was important or very important
• Visual aids and reference material were important or very important to 77 per cent of respondents.

Tim added: “The findings of this survey will help us to shape training in general and training materials in particular for workshops operating heavy-duty lifts.

“The survey has also highlighted some attitudes towards the importance and value of training – and the need for a carefully structured approach when it comes to recognising operator competence.”

Click here to read the full results.