News

Platform Training Up and Running in IFTI

Platforms are crucial to job safety and effectiveness in bridge painting.  The stability they provide for painters often hundreds of feet in the air over ground or water give the men and women steady footing and security so they can return home safely. That same stability allows painters to work faster because they can stage equipment and other materials necessary to get the job done near them throughout the job.

In July, the International Finishing Trades hosted two leading companies in platform systems to hold a train the trainer course for IUPAT instructors – SafeSpan and Safway.

Representatives from each company not only put the IUPAT instructors through hands on training on the IFTI Training Center floor, they received in-depth classroom training and curriculum materials to take back to their councils as well.

Class attendees found the course on erecting these platform systems to be invaluable to their work. “It’s a skill that’s very valuable,” said Joe Dreher of District Council 5/Local Union 300 in Seattle.  “It’s always nice to know that the platform you’re working is one that you built. You know everything about it. It’s a confidence booster.”

Platform training will continue in 2019 for IUPAT instructors at the IFTI, while those who have already completed the course will holding classes of their own in their district councils in the months to come.