IPAF goes digital: new app replaces PAL Cards and paper documentation

[A NEW MOBILE APP has been launched for operators of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs), featuring the first-ever digital IPAF PAL Card, operator log book and operator safety guide.

The new ePAL app from the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is free to use and is aimed at bringing training certification into the digital era – reducing the environmental impact involved in issuing IPAF’s PAL Card and training certification.

The app also allows operators to receive the latest best practice tips and safety information, and means operators can share their qualifications with site managers quickly and easily. It has been hailed as a major step forward in IPAF’s on-going drive to boost sustainability, as it shifts away from issuing plastic, credit card-sized PAL Cards via the post to every training candidate successfully completing or renewing an IPAF operator course.

It also phases out paper certification of qualifications and logging of machine time and replaces the printed paper version of IPAF’s operator safety guide, speeding up the processing time and resources.

Peter Douglas, CEO and MD of IPAF, commented: “A typical year’s output in terms of IPAF PAL Cards and certificates issued used to amount to a 130-metre stack of printed plastic and paper, shipped from supplier to IPAF, to the IPAF training centre and then on to candidates. Then, after five years, the candidate would dispose of it and start again!

“The new app will lead to us reducing the number of steps in processing a PAL Card and cut down on all that waste, as well as the expense, delays and carbon emissions involved in shipping items around the globe needlessly. Developing an operator app has been a key priority for IPAF since I took up post in 2019, and we were excited to team up with IPAF member Trackunit to bring its considerable technical expertise to bear to roll this out.

“IPAF’s ePAL brings huge benefits for operators and IPAF training centres alike, while allowing us to streamline and digitise our processes. We are monitoring the roll-out of the new app and are already planning new functionality. These are exciting times.” q