NES Rentals Holdings, Inc., Chicago, Ill., has become an American Work Platform Training (AWPT) training center in the Chicago market, and will offer operator training based on the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) training program. NES’ first AWPT Training Center opened in Des Plaines, Ill., to serve the greater Chicagoland area. The training center offers customer training and will conduct operator training for all branch employees who operate or occupy aerial devices. “NES is pleased to respond to a growing interest in the Chicago area for AWPT training for aerial lift operators, said Teresa Kee, director, environmental, health and safety for NES. “Because we already offer operator training programs from various aerial work platform manufacturers, it was a natural progression for us to add AWPT training to our programming,”
Successful completion of the AWPT program leads to the issuance of an internationally-recognized Powered Access Licensed-registration (PAL) card, said Kee. The PAL card represents the gold standard for aerial platform training throughout the globe and NES is pleased to offer its customers training that will allow them to operate in the safest, most productive way possible, she added.
“The IPAF program is unlike any other operator training program in the industry,” said Tony Groat, of AWPT. “While both IPAF and AWPT are dedicated to providing comprehensive training in the safe use of aerial work platforms and mast climbing work platforms, neither organization performs the actual training. Training is done by those members of IPAF, like NES, who have met stringent requirements and are certified as Authorized Training Centers. We provide them with the training materials, then follow up and monitor the way the actual training is conducted. It’s the only program available that has checks and balances to assure a consistent implementation of the training,” added Groat.
In addition to NES, there are three other AWPT Training centers located in the Chicago area including those operated by Skyjack, the Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 73 and the Construction Safety Council.
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