Straightpoint product technician Gavin Arnell out-performed lifting equipment professionals of far greater experience to pass the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) P1E Foundation Course recently.
The Foundation Course is the basic level training course offered by LEEA, which is based in Huntingdon, UK but established across the globe as the leading representative body for all those involved in the lifting industry worldwide. It offers a number of courses ranging in duration and tailored for varied levels of expertise and types of equipment.
Arnell participated in a three-day programme that took place at LEEA’s Osprey Court training facility near the association’s headquarters in Ramsay Court, which is also on the Hinchingbrooke Business Park. P1E includes 28 modules covering a range of subjects including, standards and codes of practice; wire rope and wire rope slings; overhead travelling cranes; and mobile cranes.
He said: “Having never seen or heard of much of the subject matter covered by the modules, I was apprehensive about tackling the content in an exam situation. However, as the course progressed I became more confident and embraced it as a learning experience. I was still pleasantly surprised though when LEEA confirmed I had passed.”
The foundation level exam is a prerequisite for studying at advanced level and Arnell has already booked to take the Lifting Equipment General (LEG) Advanced Programme, a five-day intensive course, in April. The LEG course offers hands-on practical training to complement essential theory sessions. Content is based on lifting accessories and includes thorough examination procedures and criteria for continued periods of service.
Arnell said: “I am looking forward to the challenges of the LEG course and am sure I can apply lessons learnt in P1E to help me at the more advanced level. I know there will be lots of references to below-the-hook and rigging equipment that will reinforce my understanding about the sector of the industry in which Straightpoint operates.”
Alfie Lee, operations director at Straightpoint, said: “Gavin was the only person on the course with no previous experience and he passed first time. Some of the other candidates were on their second attempt and were perhaps not as successful even this time around. He can take a tremendous amount of encouragement and confidence from that moving forward.”
Both the P1E and LEG courses contain modules on wire rope and wire rope slings, which Lee said aligns the content with Straightpoint strategy. He explained: “We are just starting to explore the wire rope industry in greater depth. Having someone with this qualification will be invaluable and will help us understand how our customers use our products and the problems they face on a day-to-day basis within the lifting industry.”
