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Includes modules for Hammar, Swinglift and Steelbro!
Sideloader training is mandatory for all operators. This is covered in the Good Practice Guide which is endorsed by WorkSafe. There are two options: a unit standard course, or a competency course (like this one). Every three years, a competency course must be completed again. The advantages of doing this course online are:
Even seasoned operators will learn something from this course, plus there's the opportunity to refresh knowledge and eliminate bad habits.
The course is divided into easy-to-follow modules that take just a few minutes each. Operators have access to the course materials for six months so they can go back and repeat modules as required if bad habits start to kick in.
You can create a certificate for your operator at the end to prove they have passed the modules and to verify that they have been assessed as competent.
It's the most effective way to comply with training requirements and become a skilled sideloader operator.
What happens when you pass the theory part of the course? You get a certificate of completion for the theory, but you don't get the operator's certificate until you have successfully completed a practical assessment.
What training does this complement? Sideloader training is excellent for accompanying semitrailer reversing, rollover stability and trailer coupling.
Is there any instructor-led training? This course is online-only. If you want to do the sideloader unit standard, please choose the unit standard course here which contains theory and practical assessment by a trainer.
Does this course cover every type of sideloader? It covers Hammar, Steelbro and Swinglift. There are variations within those models. The course is relatively generic and, along with the operator's manual, the trainee will be able to understand how to operate the sideloader
How long is the certificate valid for? Generally, training on this type of machinery is conducted every three years.
Does this course include a practical assessment? We supply a comprehensive practical assessment guide that you can use in-house using your own sideloader.
Do I have to do NZQA unit standards? No, unit standards are optional. This course contains more information, tips and tricks than the unit standard course.
What sideloaders are covered? We feature Hammar, Swinglift and Steelbro. It's important that the trainee has access to the instruction manual.
I send my sideloader operators out to an external training company. Isn't this the law? No, there's nothing in any law that says you have to do this. The Good Practice Guide has a set of recommendations, and they are backed up by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. There's a requirement for training that meets the minimum requirements. Basically, you can comply with the Act in the way that is best suited to your company's requirements, as long as the method doesn't deliver a worse health and safety outcome than the recommendations in the Good Practice Guide. Online learning is more in-depth, more inclusive with our translations and audio recordings, and can be repeated as many times as is necessary to gain understanding. Taking control of your practical assessments and doing it internally is a more robust way of understanding how to monitor your sideloader operators' performance throughout their time at your company rather than sending them out and not understanding how they should be operating in your company. The practical checklist is straightforward to follow and tests the operator's competence on the day of the assessment.
I have a different type of sideloader. Can I still use this course? Yes. The theory modules are generic to all sideloaders; only the specific brand modules cover the details for specific brands. The GPG says that an operator should be trained on the sideloader that they are using or will use. This means that if you (or someone else, e.g. the distributor) can do an induction/training on that machine, it will cover the requirements.
My sideloader remote control looks different from the remote control in the modules. Can I still use the course? The theory is the same regardless of what type of sideloader you use, it's simply the button placement that differs. Have someone explain the buttons, or use the user manual. The manufacturers tend to use the same or similar icons.
How long is the certificate valid for? The recommendation is three years. You are free to change this to be more frequent, e.g. two years, but you should not make it longer than three years as this will provide a worse health and safety outcome and therefore would not comply with the HSWA2015.
Does this course include a practical assessment with a trainer? No, the practical assessment can be conducted in-house by following the guide. A practical assessment is available in the unit standard course
How do you prove that a person has done the training when it's online? We recommend that your operators do the training at your premises (either on your computers or tablets or using their smartphone) so that you can ensure it is them doing the training and not another person. Our clients tend to schedule convenient, short sessions where an operator can use those facilities.
You get access to the course for a full 6 months which means your operator can take a couple of months to finish the modules and can come back to it as a refresher anytime until the course access expires - this is great if you need to do any remedial work with them.
Set up is free whether you are purchasing one course licence or a hundred course licences.
TR Driver Training specialises in heavy and light commercial and rural vehicle training nationwide. Call us on 0800 637 000
