Way back in July last year we started a series of editorials aimed at trying to break down the content of the training modules so that people had a better understanding of what they are about and why they are different from the old ways of training. In this last editorial of the series we are looking at the ‘odds and sods’ but which are extremely important and indeed, some might say of a ‘higher level’ than most of the others and all, it is fair to say, would be attended by technicians already having experience in the recovery sector.
VR17-Lorry Loader
This module is aimed at recovery technicians who use Lorry Loader Cranes to routinely recover casualty vehicles from accident situations and Police evidence situations in their day to day activities. It covers the recovery of casualties with a Gross Vehicle Mass of up to 3500 KG. It also covers the safety aspects relating to the use of this type of equipment. This module uses the National Occupational Standards and the Technical Certificate (developed by the IVR and Automotive Skills) as the benchmark for the content of the course.
The aims of the course will be to give a full understanding of the construction and operation of a Lorry Loader crane and the equipment used with it to remove and recovery vehicles, but, most importantly, the safety issues surrounding this type of equipment. The instructors delivering these courses are highly experienced and have been assessed delivering the training, to ensure only the very best training is delivered.
Assessment is by a multiple choice question paper and a skills test where a casualty vehicle is raised from a coned area on to the bed of the Lorry Loader and then off into another coned area, this must all be done correctly and most importantly, safely and without touching any of the cones!
VR18-Air Cushions
This module is aimed at recovery technicians who use Air Cushions to recover casualty vehicles from RTC situations in their day to day activities. It also covers the safety aspects relating to the use of this type of equipment. As with all the modules this module uses the National Occupational Standards and the Technical Certificate (developed by the IVR and Automotive Skills) as the benchmark for the content of the course.
The aims of this module are;
- To understand the potential risks and safety procedures when using Air Cushions
- To understand the principles of Air Cushion recovery
- To understand the types of Air Cushion used in commercial vehicle recovery operations
- To understand the correct and safe operation and use of air Cushions
- To understand the correct and safe maintenance of Air cushions
- To understand how to calculate the effort required to right an overturned vehicle
In most cases now this module is delivered alongside VR13-Underlift (Heavy Recovery) and VR16-Advanced Winching for heavy recovery. Assessment is more difficult now due to most Heavy Recovery operations being a team effort and in some cases needing an Incident Manager. However, the Instructors have the skills to give individuals tasks within the team to allow them to assess the technician fully to ensure their competence.
VR19-Preservation of Evidence
Recently updated this module is about providing the recovery technician with the knowledge to be able to carry out a recovery of a vehicle or other items required for evidence by the Police. It strives to get the technician to understand how their role in the recovery is crucial to the preservation of evidence for a subsequent prosecution. It provides the student with the confidence and competence to discuss with the Police authorities the best way to recover a vehicle whilst preserving the evidence intact. It also provides a student with a basic understanding of the types of law in the UK.
The course aims to get the technician to understand the difference between civil and criminal law, the people and organisations that link together, from the crime to the successful prosecution and their roles within that process, particularly that of the recovery technician. It seeks to show students how their actions can contaminate potential evidence and indeed, how, by our incorrect actions, we can move evidence from one place to another, or introduce conflicting evidence. The course also covers the preservation of mechanical evidence following Road Traffic Collisions.
Assessment is by a multiple choice question paper
VR20-Recovery Appliances
This module includes ‘Rotators’ as well as ‘Top Booms’. Equipment that, to this day, causes controversy, particularly ‘Rotators’ and ‘Sliders’, are they cranes? Are they not cranes? But, the IVR took the view that they are machines that were being used with no training whatsoever, so it was better to have some form of training available, than none at all! It carried out research and sent instructors to America to get information, it also looked at ‘crane’ training in the UK to draw on their expertise. Most importantly, the whole issue was discussed with the Health and Safety executive to ensure that what was constructed was within any safety legislation currently available.
The module primarily covers the use of Rotating Recovery units, but can also be used for training ‘Top Boom’ recovery methods. This module is aimed at recovery technicians who use ‘Rotator’ and/or ‘Top Boom recovery units to routinely recover casualty vehicles in ‘overturned’ and ‘off road’ situations in their day to day activities. It covers the removal of casualties with a Gross Vehicle Mass in excess of 3500 KG. It also covers the safety aspects relating to the use of this type of equipment.
As with all the recovery modules the prime aim of the module is to teach the student/technician the safety aspects of using the equipment. It will cover the construction and controls of the equipment. What this course cannot do is reproduce every type of recovery situation that a technician is likely to come across, but what it seeks to achieve is a full understanding of the major issues of; stability, positioning, use of controls and rigging for the best mechanical advantage, all of which are assessed during the skills test.
There are currently two main instructors for this equipment, who have constructed this course, any further instructors have to be mentored by one of these and then assessed by them as well, before being allowed to train on this equipment. Only highly experienced technicians with this type of equipment within their companies are likely to attend this course. Becoming a highly trained, highly experienced operator with this type of equipment will be the pinnacle of any Heavy Recovery technician’s career and the level of expertise required not underestimated!
As with all recovery equipment modules assessment will be by multiple choice question paper and a skills test on the setting up of the machine and the use of the controls. Group assessment is carried out during the ‘rigging’ programme.
VR21-Recovery Incident Manager
A comparatively new module it is about developing key personnel within a recovery business to be able to Liaise with the emergency services, risk assess the scene, plan the recovery method, coordinate and control the recovery operation. Personnel attending this course are likely to have a number of years experience as a recovery technician and two years experience at a supervisory level, this may include current experience as an Incident Manager. This course can be used for either heavy recovery or light recovery technicians.
The course aims are;
- To understand what a ‘major’ incident is and/or why an incident manager might be required at the scene
- To understand the responsibilities of a Recovery Incident Manager
- To understand the communication lines at an incident
- To understand how to complete a risk assessment and implement control measures
- To understand the requirements of a ‘method statement’
- To understand the roles and responsibilities of the emergency services managers and teams
- To understand the way in which to communicate effectively with the emergency services
- To understand the types of recovery equipment that may be required at an incident
- To understand how to plan and organise an incident
- To understand what ‘post recovery’ operations are required for an incident
- To understand how to prepare a ‘post recovery’ report for a customer
Assessment to check that learning has taken place and that the student is competent will be by a multiple choice question paper where an 80% pass will need to be achieved and a scenario based skills test. In addition the student must deliver, to their peer group, a presentation of their scenario based planning and organisation of the incident in order to assess their communication skills. It is envisaged that the scenario based exercises will be completed by the student after the training on the first day and be presented to their peers the following morning. Students will be notified by the Training Provider, in conjunction with IVR (UK) Ltd of their success or failure following receipt of the correctly completed documentation by the Training Provider. This is due to the complexity of the marking process.
VR22-Temporary Traffic Management
The IVR is currently working closely with the Highways Agency to construct a module that suits what we do as an industry and meets our needs. Details of our progress will be announced as we progress. We have already found an easy way to distinguish the type of warning or traffic management required in a simple four stage split, these are; Recovery vehicle beacons only, a ‘Relaxed sign Layout’, this relates to signs and cones carried on the recovery vehicle, a ‘Standards sign Layout, relating to signs and cones laid out by a third party or a full road closure. The IVR’s main aim will be to ensure there is no additional time or cost burden placed on the recovery operator, whilst maintaining or improving the safety of the recovery technician.
VR23-Bus and Coach Recovery awareness
This module is aimed at recovery technicians who routinely remove Buses and Coaches in their day to day activities. It also covers the safety aspects relating to the recovery of Buses and Coaches as well as the correct way to attach the recovery vehicle in order to avoid damage to the casualty. It is currently going through a makeover and brought into line with the modular format, but will be basically the same as the old IVR Bus and Coach course. Whilst there is no recovery carried out on this course a number of types of Bus and Coach will be used to demonstrate to correct lifting points and safety issues surrounding compressed air systems.
The course aims are;
- To understand how to identify the Health and Safety requirements when recovering Buses and Coaches
- To understand the dangers of air suspension and the hazards presented
- To understand the chassis construction of Buses and Coaches
- To understand the correct loading and unloading techniques when using an Underlift
- To understand the correct loading and unloading techniques when using a low loader
There will still be an assessment paper with this module to ensure learning has taken place.
So, we have come to the end of the module outlines, I hope that this has been some use to you all, of course, further information can be obtained from www.ivruk.com or the office on 01895 436426. However, since starting this process we have now constructed Schemes of Work for each and every one of the modules and these will be available soon on the AVRO website. They outline the course, the aims and objectives and assessment as well as other information on the delivery of the course.
Terry Crampton
Training, Assessment and Quality Management Representative for the IVR
