Construction Essentials

Plant Machinery Training

Dumpers, ride-on rollers, compactors, and mini excavators. Essential construction site plant machinery training for operators at all levels.

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Machine Categories

Equipment We Cover

Core construction plant machinery — each with dedicated training programmes tailored to the specific hazards and operational requirements.

Forward Tipping Dumpers

Site dumpers for bulk material transport
  • Forward and swivel tip variants
  • Site dumpers for moving bulk aggregate, spoil, and materials
  • Essential for earthworks, foundations, and general construction
Key Hazards
  • Tip stability and overturning risk
  • Ground conditions and slope operation
  • Overloading and visibility

Ride-On Rollers

Vibrating and static compaction rollers
  • Tandem and single drum configurations
  • Common uses: road construction, ground compaction, trench backfill
  • Vibrating and static operation modes
Key Hazards
  • Vibration exposure (HAVS) from prolonged operation
  • Gradients and turning on compacted surfaces
  • Operator whole-body vibration

Plate Compactors

Walk-behind compaction equipment
  • Common uses: trench reinstatement, paving, small area compaction
  • Forward and reversible plate variants
  • Essential for utility and highways reinstatement work
Key Hazards
  • HAVS exposure from hand-arm vibration
  • Noise exposure requiring hearing protection
  • Correct ground application and material type

Mini Excavators (Under 10 Tonnes)

Compact 360° machines for confined spaces
  • Common uses: domestic groundworks, utility trenching, landscaping
  • Ideal for confined and restricted access sites
  • Widely used across construction, utilities, and landscaping sectors
Key Hazards
  • Tail swing (zero vs conventional) in confined areas
  • Transportation and loading/unloading risks
  • Ground pressure and stability on soft ground
Training Programmes

Course Options

Available for each machine type listed above. Duration varies depending on the equipment and the operator's existing experience.

New Operator

Typically 1–5 days depending on machine

Full theory and practical training from zero to competent. Covers all aspects of safe operation for the chosen machine type including pre-use checks, hazard awareness, and formal assessment.

Price on application

Refresher

Half to full day

For experienced operators due their periodic competence refresh. Covers any regulatory updates, practical reassessment, and updated documentation.

Price on application
What You'll Learn

General Training Content

Core topics covered across all plant machinery courses, supplemented by machine-specific modules.

All Courses Include

  • Machine-specific familiarisation and controls
  • Pre-use inspection procedures
  • Safe operating techniques for each machine type
  • Hazard identification and risk awareness
  • Ground conditions assessment
  • Loading and transporting plant
  • Refuelling and daily maintenance
  • Incident and defect reporting
  • Environmental awareness (noise, dust, vibration)
  • Formal assessment and certification

HAVS Awareness — Vibrating Machinery

For rollers, plate compactors, breakers, and any vibrating plant equipment, all courses include Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) awareness training as required by the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

HAVS AwarenessRecognising symptoms: blanching, numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength, and circulatory changes.

Exposure LimitsExposure Action Value (EAV) and Exposure Limit Value (ELV) trigger times for each machine type.

Health SurveillanceEmployer duties regarding Tier 1–5 health surveillance for at-risk operators.

Employer DutiesLegal obligations under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 including risk assessment and exposure control.

Book Your Training

Ready to Get Started?

Call or email for a no-obligation quote on plant machinery training. We will get back to you within 24 hours.

07918 617760 ade.whetton@phwltd.com
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