Training | DHS Complete Hire

Health and Safety is of paramount importance to DHS Complete Hire. It’s one of our core values and is at the heart of everything we do.

We offer a range of training including in-house courses, e-learning courses and recognised IPAF Approved courses across working at height and other categories.

We are a fully approved IPAF Training Centre.

Advantages of IPAF training

ISO 18878 certified operator training
Operator licence, safety guides & experience log available on Android or iPhone app
Globally recognised Certificate
Trainers are Independently audited for ISO 18878 compliance
Global accident report database
Upon completion successful candidates are awarded a 5-year certificate

Working at Height Training

We recognise that risks of injury are significantly increased once a work task involves working at height. Mobile elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) remain the safest way to work at height, however there still remains dangers that must be managed.

Regular training and adherence to safety protocols can significantly reduce the dangers associated with working in a MEWP. There are also legal duties created by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations 2007 that state that an employer shall ensure that “self-propelled work equipment is operated only by competent persons who have been appropriately trained,”.

DHS Complete Hire Training: MEWP Operator Course

DHS Complete Hire offers two different MEWP operator training courses.

Our ever popular in-house training course.

Full Day. Max: 6 candidates per course

This covers relevant legislation, risk factors, selecting the correct machine, fall protection systems, pre operation inspection and rescue procedure. This course includes a theory and practical test. Upon completion successful candidates are awarded a 3-year certificate from DHS Complete Hire

IPAF Operator course 3a (Vertical/Scissors) +3b (Mobile Booms)

Full Day. Maximum 4 candidates per course

You will learn how to confidently and safely operate a MEWP.

The course covers:

Pre-use checks and machine familiarisation
Basic harness selection and pre-use checks
Modular, category-specific training containing detailed information about the machine category features, mechanisms & controls
Safe MEWP operations
Work-site inspections
Key hazards and mitigation

Successful candidates will receive a digital PAL Card, accessed via the IPAF ePAL operator app. The PAL Card is valid for five years.

IPAF Operator E-learning course 3a (Vertical/Scissors) +3b (Mobile Booms)

You can now complete the theory section of IPAF operator course in the comfort of your own home/office with the IPAF E learning course. This covers all the same content as the standard course but is divided into manageable sections, allowing you to complete them at your own pace. You can save and resume your training at any time. Typically, this takes 3-4 hours to complete.

Once you have completed the course and passed the exam you can contact us to arrange to visit our Drogheda Training Centre and take the practical exam.

Note: When candidates arrive at the training centre, they will have to re-sit the theory test before proceeding with the practical test.

Additional Machine Categories.

Up to three IPAF MEWP categories can be done on the same training day (subject to notice and availability of machines). The are 3a (Vertical/Scissors) +3b (Mobile Booms) and 1b (Static Boom/Van Mount/Spider)

Supplementary courses

These courses can, once pre-booked, also be completed when candidate is training for their MEWP Course.

Working at Heights

For anyone needing working at heights training this can be covered while candidates are already on site. On completion of this course participants will be:

Aware of the Working at Height Legislation & Regulations
Able to identify the main hazards & risks associated with working at height
Able to select the correct Personal Protective Equipment
Aware of the importance of harnesses & lanyards inspection

IPAF Harness Training Courses

IPAF offer three levels of harness training depending on the needs of the learner

Harness Awareness Course (HA): Candidates who do not need to personally use or wear a harness should, take only the HA Course (theory training & test) which can be completed remotely as eLearning, or in-person at an IPAF training centre.

Candidates typically include managers, planners, safety professionals and supervisors.

Harness User Course (HU): Candidates who do need to use or wear a harness themselves should first take the HA Course and then attend an IPAF training centre to take their HU Course practical assessment (this can be incorporated into a candidate’s MEWP Operator Course).

Candidates are generally MEWP operators.

Harness Inspection Course (HA): Candidates who are responsible for inspecting their company’s personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) and maintaining inspection records (including those required by law), should first take the HA and HU courses, followed by the HI Course.

Candidates are mostly company harness/safety inspectors.

IPAF MEWPs for Managers course (E-Learning)

Companies that use MEWPs need to know what their management and legal responsibilities are and how to ensure the most effective use of MEWPs. This course covers what managers need to know for safe and effective use of MEWPs on site, including planning the job, conducting a risk assessment, selecting the right equipment for optimum cost efficiency and mitigating all possible risks.

The E-Learning version of the IPAF MEWPs for Managers course enables candidates to undertake the tuition in convenient sections and pass the online course at a time and place of their choosing. It ends with a written test that candidates must pass. Upon successful completion of the theory test, candidates will receive an IPAF certificate.

Candidates tend to be anyone who is responsible for planning and overseeing the use of MEWPs on their job site.

Please Note: The HSA Guideline on the safe operating procedures of MEWPS states

“It is important that those that manage and supervise the use of MEWPs have received adequate training”

IPAF Site Assessment for MEWP Selection (E-Learning)

The course guides candidates through the process of determining the optimum MEWP for a given task. Factors covered include: height, reach, up-and-over height, weight of people, required materials & tools, environment, restrictions, set-up, hazards, permits, accessories, delivery, and completion of documentation to justify the selection.

The course is theory-based only and incorporates an exam.

Candidates are anyone who is responsible for planning and overseeing the use of MEWPs on their job site, Supervisors, who wish to gain the confidence and knowledge required to make their own decision about which kind of MEWP to rent/hire for the work required and Safety professionals who need to assess whether or not the MEWP being used is the best selection for the task.

N.B. all candidates must hold a valid PAL Card for operator training or a MEWPs for Managers qualification

IPAF MEWP Demonstrator

The aim of this IPAF Demonstrator Training Course is to provide candidates with the correct instruction to properly demonstrate the use of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) to educate MEWP operators on their responsibilities and MEWP limitations.

Candidates are largely staff working in the plant hire industry or safety professionals

Enquire about a Training Course

Other Training

Abrasive Wheel Training

Abrasive Wheel training is designed to suit those who work with abrasive wheels. Abrasive Wheel training is an essential legal requirement for anyone involved in working with abrasive wheels, and up to date training should be a priority for all employers.

Abrasive Wheel training focuses on the safe and effective use of abrasive wheels, including safe storage, identifying abrasive wheels, selecting the most appropriate equipment for specific situations, inspecting and identifying damaged wheels, mounting an abrasive wheel and understanding the hazards and risks associated with using abrasive wheels.

Candidates are anyone working with or around abrasive wheels.