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The four main accrediting bodies for lift-truck training have joined forces to form a unified body in order to meet the requirements of the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L117.

The four bodies, namely the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT), The Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR), the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS), and The Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB), have agreed to form the Accrediting Bodies Association (ABA).

The move follows a period of consultation between the groups and the HSE to examine the role of accrediting bodies. This led to new criteria being introduced to ensure that existing bodies adhere to national and international standards for certification. The criteria also require each body to be regularly audited by an independent external auditing group.

The creation of the ABA will see each partner work together to ensure accredited training providers adhere to the same standards. It will also cover the future registration of operators by the training providers.

It’s hoped the newly formed association will bring clarification for training standards for all workplace transport and materials-handling equipment operators.