Mobile Plant Attachment Training
Attachment-specific operator training — forks, buckets, jibs, sweepers, augers, quick-hitches and lifting accessories — delivered on your site, on your machines.
Attachments are where most plant audit findings sit — and most quick-hitch incidents, fork-jib overloads and hydraulic mismatches come from operators authorised on the base machine but never assessed on the attachment they're using that day.
Under PUWER 1998 employers must ensure work equipment — including attachments — is used only by people who have received adequate training. Under LOLER 1998 anything used for lifting (forks, jibs, hooks, baskets, some grabs) needs thorough examination at 6 or 12-month intervals plus after any repair. Attachment-specific competence closes both gaps.
We train on your equipment across Aberdeenshire — Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Ellon, Westhill, Banchory, Aboyne and beyond — so the outcome maps directly to how your team actually works.
Attachments we train on
Pallet forks (telehandler / loader)
Rated capacity changes with fork centre and load centre; most audit findings sit here.
Buckets (excavator, loader, telehandler)
Change of duty from lifting to earthmoving invalidates the last thorough examination.
Fork-mounted lifting jibs & extensions
Reduces SWL dramatically — operators routinely overload without noticing.
Brushes, sweepers, snow ploughs
Hydraulic flow and pressure mismatch damages the carrier and the attachment; needs specific competence.
Man-riding baskets (only where permitted)
Restricted use under LOLER; requires risk assessment and manufacturer approval — not for general lifting duties.
Grabs, augers, breakers, quick-hitches
Quick-hitch is the #1 UK plant-attachment fatality mechanism. Operator authorisation must be attachment-specific.
Common findings we help you fix
- Operators authorised on the telehandler but not on the fork-mounted jib being used to lift.
- Quick-hitches operated without a documented daily check — the #1 UK attachment fatality mechanism.
- Attachment thorough examination certificates in the file, but no cross-reference at the gate.
- Rated capacity read from the machine, not adjusted for the attachment's load centre.
FAQs
- Is a plant operator card enough to use attachments?
- No. Under PUWER 1998 and site-specific rules, operators must be assessed as competent on the specific attachment they use — not just the base machine. Employers are expected to hold attachment-specific authorisation records.
- Do attachments need thorough examination under LOLER?
- Yes for any attachment used for lifting (forks, jibs, hooks, baskets, grabs used to lift). Thorough examination intervals are 6 or 12 months depending on use, plus after any repair or exceptional circumstance.
- Can attachment training be done on-site?
- Yes — and we recommend it. We travel to your yard or site across Aberdeenshire and assess your operators on the exact attachments you use, using the manufacturer's data plate and your risk assessments.
- How long does attachment training take?
- Usually half a day per attachment for experienced operators; a full day if the attachment is new to the team or covers multiple machines. Refreshers are typically 2–3 hours.
- What does it cost?
- Costs depend on group size, travel and how many attachments are covered. Small teams on one attachment start from around £250 + VAT per day; call 07867 933 018 for an accurate quote.
Book attachment training
Send us your machine list and the attachments in use — we'll build a course around them.
Delivered on your site · your machines · your attachments