U
plift Quality Solutions, which opened in
2009, is part of the Eazi Group and sister
company of Eazi Access, a company
specialising in the rental, sales, servicing, and
training of work-at-height and material handling
solutions. Uplift Quality Solutions is also a
registered Lifting Machine Entity (LME #405)
with the Department of Labour, and offers a wide
range of machine load testing, covering lifting
tackle, overhead cranes, and aerial platforms.
General manager Richard Cherryholme
explains that the company plays a vital role
in ensuring that customers are well trained,
certified, and competent with the skills necessary
to be productive in the workplace.
Robyn Grimsley (RG): What type of training
does Uplift Quality Solutions offer, and how
long have these courses and certifications
been available?
Richard Cherryholme (RC): Uplift Quality
Solutions specialises in training operators
to work on mobile elevated work platforms
(MEWPs), mobile and overhead cranes,
telehandlers, and forklifts. Not only do we
ensure that the operators we train conform
to the legal requirements of the industry, but,
more importantly, we also ensure that they
understand and practice safety in the workplace.
All our learners are trained extensively on the
application, operation, and limitations of the
machine so they can be effective in their daily
operations while adhering to practices that
ensure their safety and the safety of those
around them while they are working.
We have been offering training for over eight
years now. As we continue to grow, we will look
at adding additional training courses that are
complementary to the fields we operate in and
the courses we currently offer.
RG: What is the typical duration of the
various courses and certifications available
through Uplift Quality Solutions?
RC: The duration of the courses varies, but
the majority of novice training courses take
three to five days and cover both theoretical
and practical components. Typically, around
20–30% of the training is theory, and the
balance is practical. Learners are assessed on
both the theoretical and practical components.
Some courses will also require the learner
to complete a workplace logbook to further
enhance their practical experience. Operators’
licences are valid for a period of 24 months.
Thereafter, the operator will need to attend
a one-day reassessment for the licence to be
extended for a further 24 months.
RG: Are the available courses and
certifications accredited, and are they
recognised outside of South Africa?
RC: The training business is an accredited
training provider with the Transport Education
Training Authority (TETA) and the Education,
Training and Development Practices (ETDP)
SETAS. All our operator courses are registered
unit standards with the relevant SETA, and
adhere to South African Qualifications Authority
(SAQA) unit standards. Our facilitators are
qualified assessors as well as experts on access
equipment.
The training certifications provided are
generally not recognised outside of South Africa.
However, Uplift Quality Solutions is a registered
training provider with the International Powered
Access Federation (IPAF) and can also offer
MEWP training that is widely recognised outside
the borders of South Africa.
RG: Who is eligible for the training and
what are the prerequisites for attending the
training, if any?
RC: Although the training we offer is
primarily aimed at operators, anyone is eligible
to attend the training course, provided they
meet the entrance qualification conditions as
laid out in the Driven Machinery Regulations’
National Code of Practice for T raining
Providers of Lifting Machine Operators.
Basically, the learner must:
a. be physically capable of performing
without difficulty the tasks involved in
operating the lifting machine;
b. provide a declaration or certificate from the
employer confirming medical fitness;
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