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The Importance of Product Familiarisation

ALLMI has long been highlighting the importance of product familiarisation and the problems that arise when this training is not provided to operators. ALLMI Technical Manager, Keith Silvester, comments “It’s important that we issue periodic industry reminders of the comprehensive guidance we have in place on this subject.”

He continues, “There is a clear legal duty on the part of the employer and the employee for lorry loaders to be operated safely, and an important aspect of ensuring this is for the operator to be fully conversant with the lorry loader being used. Therefore, the operator must not only undergo the appropriate basic training, but also receive machine familiarisation at the point of handover. It’s essential that the operator is familiarised with any features that are specific to that particular type of lorry loader, because with manufacturers continually improving their designs, experience of using one make / model of crane does not mean that an operator will be conversant with any other.”

ALLMI CEO, Tom Wakefield, adds “All parties need to understand the importance of product familiarisation and the significant problems that can occur when it does not take place, or when it’s not carried out to the correct standard. The importance of documenting the process should also be fully appreciated, and this includes situations where a customer declines the offer of familiarisation, in which case their response should be appropriately recorded and signed off.”

ALLMI’s guidance is divided into two parts, containing a template form to be used by those carrying out product familiarisation, as well as a supporting document explaining each of the areas to be covered during the process and details of the audit trail that should be put in place.

The following are just some of the areas covered by ALLMI’s documentation:

  • Rated capacity load charts
  • Air suspension
  • Control levers / remote controls
  • Un-stowing / stowing functions
  • Stabiliser deployment / stowing
  • Safety systems
  • Crane and attachment functions
  • Operator checks and maintenance
  • Documentation

ALLMI’s product familiarisation guidance is freely available to all industry stakeholders and so please contact us to obtain a copy, or to request assistance in relation to this important topic.