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Operator training courses and certification

Our courses are aimed at local club Groundsmen and Greenkeepers, and are held at venues convenient to them. Pitchcare will arrange the venue, the training and all the administration. Full guidance notes and information packs will be issued to all candidates.

All training undertaken for Pitchcare is by LANTRA and NPTC approved Instructors.

For larger organisations, with several members of staff, we can tailor the day courses to include training on a number of different machines, dependent upon the client's needs. Please call 01902 440252 to discuss your needs.

Operative Skills Training

• Courses for practical skill training and assessment for machine operators.
• Courses that provide health and safety training in use of product and machines
• Health and Safety awareness courses
• All courses are tailored to the unique requirement and need of both the business and the operator
• Independent examination with nationally recognized certification boards
• Courses suit application in various service industries – Amenity, Council, Forestry, Agriculture, Construction and Warehouse.
• Training is principally conducted on client site – familiarity of venue removes training stress
• Training/Testing uses familiar equipment– removing barriers for the candidate.
• The objective of our service, is to
1. Minimize business disruption
2. Reduce cost of time lost to training
3. Maximizing learning achieved

• We take a "hands on approach" enabling less academic candidates to participate in a relaxed atmosphere to get the most out of the training
• All candidates are provided with the time they need to accomplish the tasks set and achieve the required standard.
• All instructors are experienced in the related industry and trained to quality standards as set by the governing examination boards. They are dedicated, proven communicators with knowledge and experience in engineering, agriculture and amenity. Motivated and diligent in the provision of appropriate training to others.

Our Continued Professional Development

• NPTC bi-annual assessor & technical updates
• Lantra annual updates
• Annual Health & Safety Update courses
• Annual risk assessment updates
• Annual Assessor Quality assessment
• Professional forum - Policy/Procedure/Legislation updates

The reasons and benefits for the courses that we can provide are:-

For The Employee

A Certificate of competence demonstrates the ability, experience and technical knowledge of the holder.

For The Employer

1. Meets legal requirements.
2. Nationally recognized.
3. Quality assured.
4. Safe working practice.
5. Identifies competent operators.
6. Professional image.
7. Conforms to recently implemented, and soon to be implemented, constraints imposed by public and employer liability insurance cover.

With regards to No 7, many insurance companies are now or soon will be asking for proof of competence for the machinery that the policyholders are using. As we are becoming a nation that seeks monetary recompense for any work related incident, many insurance companies will no longer provide cover for any accident involving machinery, where the operator in question has not been provided with adequate training to use that machinery.

Keeping up with legislation and regulations is imperative to ensure the safety of staff and the client and avoid litigation. Time is an expensive factor, though by training on your site we can minimise the lost time.

Special Needs: Learning needs vary. We ensure all candidates are provided with the opportunity to achieve competence.

Pricing

Each course is priced separately, and the price difference depends largely on whether the course is a certificated day course or one that requires NPTC assessment, in which case these charges will be included.

Registration and assessment charges for NPTC certification are dependent on the module and your location.

Unless specified, all courses are for 1 day. At the end of this day, candidates will receive certificate of attendance sufficient to comply with H&S Regulations and insurance.

NPTC certification is optional on all courses except the Pesticide Spraying modules. If chosen, candidates are trained to a competent level prior to an examination by an independent assessor. Successful candidates are awarded with NPTC Certificate of Competence and ID card for proof of qualification.

All courses include

• Health and Safety
• Risk assessments
• PPE
• Routine maintenance
• Safe working practice

Courses Available

• Abrasive Wheels
• All Terrain Vehicles
• Brush Cutters / Strimmers
• Brushwood Chipper
• Granular Fertiliser
• Hedge Cutters
• Manual Handling
• Mobile elevated work platforms
• Pedestrian Mowers
• Pesticides
• Ride-on Mowers
• Tractors
• Turf Maintenance Equipment
• Two Wheeled Tractors
• Vertebrae pest control

Abrasive Wheels This course covers the features of an abrasive wheel and how to protect yourself. How to operate your abrasive wheel safely and look after the machine How to get the best results The regulations governing the use of such equipment Make Enquiry All Terrain Vehicles Includes Mules and Gators, other similar 2 and 4 wheel drive vehicles and ATV manoeuvres. Suitable facilities for candidate operation must be available. Make Enquiry Brush Cutters / Strimmers Make Enquiry Brushwood Chipper Make Enquiry Granular Fertiliser Also includes calibration and application and subsequent 2 hour assessment Make Enquiry Hedge Cutters Hand held & Tractor mounted, includes flail mowers. Make Enquiry Manual Handling Max 12 persons. Usually tailored to specific operations at your of place of work. Also Includes subsequent 2-hour assessment Make Enquiry Mobile Elevated Work Platforms Make Enquiry Pedestrian Mowers Make Enquiry Ride-on Mowers Make Enquiry

Pesticides Each module is a 1 day course. All courses include PA1 No certificate of attendance is available. All testing is conducted by an independent NPTC qualified assessor. Successful candidates are awarded with NPTC Certificate of Competence and ID card for proof of qualification. Certificates available: PA1 includes: Legislation, safe storage, PPE, Emergency procedure, record keeping, Environmental issues. PA2 includes: Boom Sprayers, Identification of key components, calibration, safe handling and use of pesticides, safe application, cleaning and decontamination. PA4 includes: Granular applications, such as Slug pellets. PA6 includes: Knapsack, Identification of key components, calibration, safe handling and use of pesticides, safe application, nozzle awareness, cleaning and decontamination. PA6aw includes: Knapsack, Identification of key components, calibration, safe handling and use of pesticides, safe application, nozzle awareness, cleaning and decontamination, working within 1 metre of watercourses. Make Enquiry Tractors Can include loader operation if required. Make Enquiry Turf Maintenance Equipment Includes scarifiers, aerators, brushes, verti-cutters, rakes and blowers. Make Enquiry Two Wheel Tractors Includes rotovators & Allen scythes. Make Enquiry Vertebrae Pest Control Max 4 persons. Control of moles, rabbits, rats and mice. Course also includes Legislation Make Enquiry