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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
FEBRUARY
2015
EQUIPMENT
“We do not take short-cuts and every operator trained by the
Academy will pass on measureable savings, both in terms of
operating efficiencies and downstreammaintenance costs,”
says Willie Haasbroek, who heads up the Academy.
In the following interview, Haasbroek responds to frequently
asked questions on the services provided by the Academy, as well as
the legal requirement for operator certification, and re-certification.
What is defined by the term ‘Full Training’?
The successful completion of the NQF Level 2 Plant Operation course
presented by Barloworld Equipment’s Operator Academy.
The Plant Operation programme comprises a five day theoretical
component, which is classroom based, together with an additional 15
days (on average) of practical in-field machine operator training. This
practical component will vary depending on the machine class, some
being more complex than others to operate.
What is defined as a ‘machine handover’ in
the sphere of operator training?
No formal training takes place during a machine handover as it is
done in one day. The purpose of the handover is to familiarise opera-
tors with the machine’s features and benefits. That is why we do not
issue a certificate, as this would imply that competency training has
taken place, which would in turn have legal implications for Barlow-
orld Equipment as a training provider.
What is refresher training?
Here we focus on up-skilling experienced operators. We have also
found that refresher training (or retraining) highlights and corrects
bad habits that operators tend to pick up over the years. Retraining
has resulted in immediate and measureable bottom line improve-
ments in key areas such as slot dozing, truck loading cycle times, utili-
sation, mechanical availability and lower diesel consumption figures.
The training duration is typically three to five days, depending on
the size of the group and customer requirements.
For how long are competency
certificates valid?
Twenty four months. Thereafter, reassessment and recertification
is required in terms of South African legislation for all earthmoving
machine classes, irrespective of industry segment.
What happens if a competency certificate is
not renewed?
Operators without a valid competency certificate are legally
non-compliant.
Can I get my operator trained faster, in days
rather than weeks?
There are two ways to do it: the short way, which takes into account
‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL) or the ‘full training’ route for
those who do not qualify for the first option.
Please note that if the applying RPL candidate falls short of the
Academy’s minimum requirements on assessment, then full training
will be required to obtain certification.
Why does the full training take approximately
a month to complete?
For each machine family, there is a unit standard that dictates how
many hours of training needs to be completed. The average is approx-
imately 120 hours, which equates to three to four weeks of training
(theoretical and practical).
ACADEMY TRAINED
Each year, Barloworld Equipment’s Operator
Academy, based in Johannesburg, qualifies
around 700 candidates, some of whom attend
for refresher training, while others are brand
new to the industry.
>
Willie Haasbroek, head of the Barloworld Equipment Operator
Academy, goes through the set-up programmes on the new Cat
articulated truck simulator.