Hire and Rental News - November 2014

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ACCESS in ACTION
THE OLD YELLOW CARD TRAINING
PROGRAM: 1987 – 30 June 2013
The old Yellow Card was originally
designed as Duty of Care training. In the
very early days it was a toolbox style
delivery. The training covered all aspects of
operating an EWP safely but the program
was not linked to nationally recognised
training (Units of Competence). The
content was driven by industry and met
requirements under the OHS and WHS Act.
THE NEW YELLOW CARD TRAINING
PROGRAM: 1 July 2013 – Current
The introduction of the new program came
about for several reasons, including:
• More content on risk management
• National high risk licencing regulators
aligned themselves to nationally
recognised training
• New program name and newly
designed material
The old vs newYellow Card
Training Programs
By Phil Middleton - EWPA Training Director - The purpose of this information is to clarify
the differences between the old and the new Yellow Card Training Programs.
• Photo id and specific make and model
recorded
• A move from Duty of Care style delivery
to Competency-Based training
• The need for a training program that is
designed and mapped to a nationally
recognised training framework and has
a pathway to a Statement of Attainment
• An expiry date which requires the
holder to undergo refresher training
• Access to check a cardholder online
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Must I now have the new Yellow Card
to continue to operate an EWP?
No. Both old and new cards meet the
responsibilities placed upon owners,
employers and operators under the past
and present OHS/WHS Act.
What was the reason for changing the
program if the old Yellow Card training
met regulatory requirements?
The EWPA’s reasoning
for change is our
industry wanted more
from the training.
Research revealed
members and industry
wanted competency
based training
with pathways to nationally recognised
Statements of Attainment, more content,
refresher training and a program that could
react quickly to changes in industry.
Can I change my old Yellow Card to
the new one?
Unfortunately there is no provision for
holders of an old Yellow Card to upgrade to
the new Yellow Card without re-training.
Put simply, the old Yellow Card structure
does not directly map to the new program.
However, there are allowances in the new
program for experienced operators in the
re-training process.
What happens if I come onto a site and
must have the new photo Yellow Card?
This requirement will be site-specific and
not driven by the Association and should
be complied with. The EWPA would
recommend if operators feel their skills are
dated they should undergo retraining.
The EWPA’s position is both the old and
the new training programs are acceptable
under the OHS and WHS Act. The EWPA
has left the decision to industry to
determine if the old Yellow Card meets the
company’s risk management system.
Contact the EWPA on: 02 9998 2222
or
There were 23 fatalities worldwide
involving mobile elevating work platforms
(MEWPs) in the first half of 2014, according
to findings from IPAF’s accident database.
The main causes of these fatalities
were: overturn (9), fall from height (8),
entrapment (3), electrocution (2), and
technical/mechanical (1). Note: One of the
entrapment fatalities involved a person on
the ground being crushed between the
base of the MEWP and another structure.
Eleven of the fatalities involved mobile
booms (3b) and 10 involved static booms
(1b). In two cases, the machine type is as
yet unconfirmed. Of these fatalities, 13
occurred in the USA, two in Germany, and
one each in Australia, Austria, Colombia,
Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain
and the UK.
“More companies are participating in the
reporting project, which is generating
more data in its third year, but it is too
early to draw comparisons,” Chris Wraith,
IPAF Technical & Safety Executive said.
“This is a unique ground-breaking
program by the powered access industry
to undertake ongoing analysis. Preliminary
findings from the reporting project have
provided a rich source for improving IPAF’s
training programs and safety initiatives, for
example, with regards to the safe loading
and unloading of machines, and managing
electrocution risks when working near
power lines.”
IPAF’s accident data is based on
information collected in a number of
ways: directly reported to the IPAF
accident database at
accident, information obtained by
IPAF staff worldwide, and information
collated from press releases and news
reports. The comprehensiveness of the
data cannot be guaranteed, but where
appropriate, action is taken to verify the
facts. All manufacturers, rental companies,
contractors and users are encouraged
to report any known fatal and serious
accidents involving MEWPs and mast
climbing work platforms (MCWPs).
To register and to report an accident
go to:
IPAF’s half-year accident reporting results
ACCESS IN ACTION • NOVEMBER 2014 36
The Old Yellow Card at left and the New Yellow Card (on right)