FAQs

NPORS and CPCS Training Services

If you are looking for NPORS and CPCS certification across the UK and at our training centres in Nottingham and Chesterfield, Plant Testing Ltd is the company you can fully depend on.

Serving throughout the UK

Plant Testing Ltd can design personalized training programmes to ensure that all of your specific requirements are fulfilled. We strive towards achieving 100% customer satisfaction. The courses Plant Testing Ltd offer can take place at our training centres in Nottingham and Chesterfield or on your site across the UK. You can speak with our team of specialists for detailed information.
Contact

Serving throughout the UK

Plant Testing Ltd can design personalized training programmes to ensure that all of your specific requirements are fulfilled. We strive towards achieving 100% customer satisfaction. The courses Plant Testing Ltd offer can take place at our training centres in Nottingham and Chesterfield or on your site across the UK. You can speak with our team of specialists for detailed information.
Contact

Plant Training Information

Who requires plant training and certification?
Plant Testing Ltd provide plant training courses for anyone who uses or will be operating plant equipment and machinery in the civil engineering, construction and utilities industries.

What do the plant training courses entail?
All plant training courses are mainly practical assessment based but can have some classroom content. 

How do I book a training course with Plant Testing Ltd?
To book a course with Plant Testing Ltd simply find the plant training course you are wanting to take and complete the short email form at the bottom of the relevant page and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

Can we still use banksman for reversing vehicles?
Yes, but only plant trained and authorised people should direct plant movements.

How should I minimise the risk of damaging gas mains and services?
The key precautions include: Obtain plans of the gas pipes from the pipeline operator; Locate the line of the pipes using suitable cable avoidance tools; If pipes operating at pressures of 2 bar and above are indicated, contact the pipeline operator before work begins; Ensure plant operators are briefed on the location of the pipes and the precautions required; Adopt safe digging practices. For example, mechanical excavators should not be used within 0.500mm of any underground services, plant operators have received full plant training and excavations should be done using hand tools with safe digging practice.

What is the distance required for excavating with a mechanical excavator near to underground services?
Adopt safe digging practices when operating items of plant. For example, 360 degree excavators should not be used within 0.500mm of any underground services and safe digging techniques should be carried out using hand tools. Make sure all plant operators have received adequate plant training.

Will I receive a certificate?
A certificate and photo ID card will be issued for all plant training courses. All plant training certificates and operator cards will be issued subject to full payment being received.

If I train one person as an operator, can this person train and certify other people?
No a plant trained operator cannot train or certify other plant trainees.

What is the minimum age for obtaining an NPORS plant training card?
Age limits: due to the "Age Discrimination Act" there are no minimum age limits for obtaining an NPORS plant operator card. However, the schemes "Policies and Procedures" must be complied with. The legal requirement for the operation of Plant and Equipment is that employees must have received adequate "Plant Training and Authorised" to operate the specific item of plant as required by Regulation 9 of the "Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998". Employers may impose specific age limits due to insurance implications and clarification should be sought from your employer.

Do I need a valid UK car driving licence in order to operate plant in the workplace?
No, driving a car and operating mobile plant are very different tasks, although they use some of the same skills. There is no legal requirement for plant operators to hold a road driving licence unless they wish to drive their vehicles on the public highway. All plant operators driving plant on the public highway must comply with the appropriate road traffic legislation. Any person wishing to operate plant on the public highway must have received adequate plant training.

What licence do I need to operate mobile plant in the workplace?
There are no government issued licences for operating plant at work, the law requires that each plant operator is given adequate plant training by their employer so that they are competent to operate the plant & machinery which they use (the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; regulation 9).

My employer will not accept my plant training certificate as valid, and is insisting that I retrain to a different plant training scheme. Is this legal?
Employers are entitled to require their plant operators to have received plant training to any scheme which they think is appropriate to their workplace, as long as completion of the plant training certificate the company chooses means that employees are competent to operate the mobile plant they will be using. For rider operated lift trucks, the HSE recognises each of the six accrediting bodies equally, but has no powers to dictate to companies which of the schemes they accept, for example NPORS operator plant training and CPCS operator plant training.

Can you offer plant training on weekends?
We can offer plant training on most weekends where specifically required. And we can also offer experienced plant operator training and plant operator assessments.

Do you train people individually or in a group?
We can train plant trainees individually or in small groups. Most plant trainees find that plant training alongside another trainee is the most economic use of time when plant training is carried out on plant and machinery.

Will I pass my plant training test?
If you meet the CPCS or NPORS plant training test standards you will pass your plant training test. This does not mean that you have to be faultless when you are undertaking your initial plant training test. But it does mean that you must not incur any serious or dangerous errors whilst undertaking your plant training test. So while we cannot guarantee that you will pass any plant training courses, we have an excellent pass-rate for our plant trainee operators, and you can view testimonials from previous plant operator trainees and companies who have previously undertaken CPCS plant training and NPORS plant training courses and plant tests.

What is the duration of the plant training course?
The duration of each plant training course depends on the type of qualification being applied for either CPCS plant training or NPORS plant training, the item of machinery and the plant operator's experience. Plant training courses vary from 1 to 10 days.

Do I need to provide a photo?
A passport photo will be required for NPORS plant training and CPCS plant training courses.

Who do plant testing offer courses to?
Plant Testing Ltd offer plant training courses to anyone who uses or will be operating plant equipment and machinery in the civil engineering, construction and utilities industries. Our clients range from individuals looking for training to progress their own career or from small, medium and large companies looking to train/re-train their own employees. 

I am an experienced operator, do I require any plant training before the initial test?
This will depend on your plant operating experience and current standard and the item of plant you are wishing to take the test on. Once you have contacted us and we have discussed your plant training we will be able to estimate that if any plant training on the item of plant will be required before your initial plant test.

Do I need to complete the Health and Safety test first before I carry out any plant training or tests?
Yes, you will require to take the CSCS test first before you attempt to do any CPCS plant operator training, this needs to be within 2 years of the initial valid passed date. Plant Testing Ltd offer the NPORS plant training courses and tests, NPORS do not require the Health and Safety test to be completed prior to the test taking place, but do recommend the test being completed prior to operating the of equipment on site.

How do I book an on line Health and Safety Test?
To book a Construction Skills Health and Safety Test online you can call the information and booking line on 0344 994 4488. The cost of the test is £17.50. If the person taking the test needs additional support e.g. accessibility or literacy please call the booking line to discuss the requirements. To book the NPORS plant training health and safety test call plant training on 07740 932 307.

I am a novice, how much plant training do I need?
This will depend on your plant operator experience and current plant operator standards and the item of plant you are wishing to receive plant training on. Once you have contacted us and we have discussed your plant training requirements we will be able to estimate the amount of plant operator training required to each individual plant trainee.

What safety clothing will I have to bring with me for the plant training course?
Plant Testing Ltd require all plant operator trainee to bring with them when attending the plant training courses adequate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required will be as follows e.g. high visibility waist coat, steel toe cap safety boots, hard hat and gloves for the plant training.

Do plant equipment operators require recognised qualifications?
Ensuring that your plant operators hold industry recognised qualifications is a must if you want to work with the major contractors and house builders in the UK. Our NPORS plant training courses and CPCS plant training courses will ensure that your plant operators are safe and efficient at their job and working in line with the latest legislation. Fully plant trained plant operatives will help you secure future work.

To what standard of training level do you offer for plant training?
Plant Testing Ltd offer plant training courses to NPORS and CPCS plant training course standard. The Health and Safety Executive recognise NPORS plant training as competent to accredit and monitor organisations to train instructors and/or to train, test and certificate plant operators.

What qualifications do your plant training courses offer?
Ensuring that your plant operators hold industry recognised plant operator qualifications is a must if you want to work with the major contractors and house builders in the UK. Plant Testing Ltd offer NPORS plant operator qualification and CPCS plant operator qualification levels. Plant Testing Ltd will ensure that your plant operators are safe and efficient at their job and working in line with the latest legislation. Fully trained plant operatives will help you secure future work.

Do you offer plant training courses for experienced operators or novice operators?
Plant Testing Ltd provides plant training courses for anyone who uses or will be operating plant and machinery in the civil engineering, construction and utilities industries. Plant Testing Ltd offer plant training courses for novice operators and experienced operators alike. We provide plant training courses specific to your requirements and dependant on your level of experience ion plant & machinery.
Get in touch with Plant Testing Ltd for NPORS and CPCS training courses across the UK and at our training centres in Nottingham and Chesterfield.
Call 07740 932 307

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