IPAF brings quality MEWP operator training to Nairobi, Kenya

Quality powered access operator training is now available in Kenya after a six-day visit from representatives of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), during which Kaileys Consortium became the east African country’s first IPAF-certified Training Centre.

Jur Kamsteeg, IPAF’s Benelux Representative and also a qualified IPAF Senior Instructor, and Richard Whiting, IPAF’s UK & Ireland General Manager, with responsibility for some other English-speaking nations worldwide, joined Kaileys for its work at height safety week. During the visit Jur completed the practical training of four nominated instructors, while Richard oversaw the company’s Training Centre audit, and submitted the necessary paperwork to officially certify Kaileys Consortium as Kenya’s first IPAF Training Centre.

Richard Whiting says: “This was a fantastic visit to accredit IPAF’s first Training Centre in Kenya. It was rewarding not only to progress the instructor training and audit process, but also to discuss work at height safety more broadly with Kaileys owner Ken Kogei and his team, along with Ambassador David Ongesa, Country Head of Quality, Health, Safety, Security & Environment at Kansai Plascon Kenya, who is also President of the Workplace Safety Professionals Association of Kenya (WSPAK).”

Once the instructor training had been completed and audit paperwork processed, the IPAF delegation stayed on to observe the first cohorts of trainees receive their IPAF operator instruction and assessments. The first of which were ten training candidates that underwent a two-day operator training course on 3a category machines, followed by a further seven candidates on the same two-day course. These first IPAF trainees included powered access operators in Kenya’s telecommunications, brewing, titanium, grain-handling, cement, petroleum and energy industries, as well as employees of Mars Wrigley Confectionary and Kenya Airways.

Before the visit was concluded, Richard Whiting was invited by Ken Kogei to meet Dr Andrew Muruka of the Directorate of Occupational Safety & Health Services (DOSHS), a department of Kenya’s Ministry of Labour, to discuss work at height safety, powered access operator training, recognition and acceptance of the IPAF PAL Card and partnering to create a safe-use of MEWPs code of practice for Kenya. It was agreed at the meeting that a memorandum of understanding to this effect should be signed between IPAF and DOSHS.

“This visit helped set the template for the way IPAF is able to support the establishment of quality training in emerging powered access markets. It was a pleasure and privilege to be invited to attend along with Jur to visit one of IPAF’s newest global members and to learn about the culture of Kenya, which in turn sets the context of quality operator training and the way work at height safety is being improved in the country.

“Jur and I would like to thank all those who extended such warm hospitality to us on this very informative visit; we wish Kaileys Consortium every success in training future generations of powered access operators in the country. We also look forward to fulfilling the agreement to sign an MOU with the country’s regulatory health & safety body DOSHS, and to assist in the establishment of new national MEWP safety guidance and recognition of quality training in the form of the IPAF PAL Card.”   

● To find out more about IPAF membership and to become a member of IPAF please visit www.ipaf.org/become-member or see www.ipaf.org/contact for details of your nearest IPAF office or representative.