Serious Labs offers first internationally accredited heavy equipment operator training by simulator

Oct. 25, 2020

The Serious Labs VR mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) simulator from Serious Labs, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, can now be used by operators to receive their PAL+ operator training, an extension of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) Powered Access License (PAL).

“This is a huge milestone; not only from a MEWP industry perspective, but from a virtual technology perspective as well,” said Jim Colvin, CEO, Serious Labs. “We are the first and only company in the world to offer this level of accepted, approved training in which a virtual simulation can replace a physical piece of equipment. In this case, it’s a boom lift and scissor lift.”

IPAF’s PAL+ operator training was developed in response to increasing demand from contractors in the UK for a recognized qualification demonstrating advanced operator proficiency and signifying a certain level of experience in using different types of MEWPs in a variety of challenging environments and scenarios. 

For over a year, IPAF conducted a series of “controlled trials” with dozens of its training members in Europe and the U.S. to deliver PAL+ training that tested candidates using Serious Labs’ VR MEWP simulators instead of real machines. Trials were completed over 18 months by training centers within the UK. The extensive trials and testing concluded that the training outcome was the same, whether the operator was tested on the VR simulator or tested on a physical MEWP.

“You've been able to use simulators as an additional part of the training course up until now, but you've never been able to physically take, and complete, the course on a simulator,” said Darren Verschuren, international account director, Serious Labs. “With the data we received from the IPAF trials, we can in essence prove that you're going to get the same result if you're on the simulator as if you're doing the course in real life. It is generally difficult for a training center to offer the PAL+ course. It’s expensive, time consuming, hard to put together, and usually not very representative of the spaces you're trying to put the machinery into, like typical spaces on construction sites, oil refineries or other locations. The simulated world is a great place to do that, because you can create an environment that more closely matches reality, that doesn't require any physical preparation by a training center, and which doesn't have any effect to the operator from a safety perspective.”

The virtual training also provides the ability to stagger training and allow control of the environment’s sanitary conditions, a necessity during the current coronavirus pandemic.

“This has been a long journey, but to finally be recognized and accredited by such a well-respected, international organization as IPAF shows that VR operator training’s day has finally arrived,” said Colvin. “Other industries such as aviation have used simulated training for safety purposes for decades. It only makes sense to use it in an industry such as access where operators are put into life-risking situations constantly. Bottomline: simulated training is better, faster, and ultimately, produces a safer, more competent operator.”
 

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