Shunter Operator Training should be completed by staff who manoeuvre large trailers/vehicles in confined spaces.
Operating Shunter vehicles is a dangerous activity as it involves manoeuvring large trailers / vehicles in confined spaces with other workers in the area. It is important for the employer to ensure the operator is competent to conduct this activity as a number of ‘Crush’ fatalities occur each year in the transport industry. Our Shunter Operator course involves both theory and practical elements and is conducted for both novice and experienced operators.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 includes the company vehicle as a place of work and states that ’every employer shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees’.
Who should attend Shunter Operator Training?
Any person who is tasked with moving containers or large vehicles within a compound or confined area.
Course Objectives
To familiarise operators with health and safety regulations and to ensure operators are competent to carry out their task.
Course Programme
Theory element outlining health and safety regulations: causes of accident, danger areas, risk of crush injuries and international best practice.
Practical element: vehicle safety checks, coupling-uncoupling, reversing, parking, risk to workers and members of the public. Effects of shadow, lighting and noise in work area.
Pre-Course Requirements: A full licence for their vehicle category and a representative vehicle.
Shunter Training Assessment/Certification:
As part of our Shunter training course, each participant will be assessed on their shunter abilities and should return to work with a very good understanding of how to manoeuvre large trailer/vehicles so to prevent accidents from occurring.
BANKSMAN/SIGNALLERS COURSE:
A separate course from Shunter Operator training, but associated. This course trains operators and drivers in the correct use of signals when manoeuvring vehicles into position. This may be in a yard/loading bay or on the road, with Tippers etc. The Banksman and driver should know where to stand and the limitations of vision experienced by drivers, and the effects of light. Proper use of PPE is emphasised.
Check out our suite of Fleet Safety courses at this link.