05 May Supporting Professional Development: off-road driving training
During April 2023 six of BSG Ecology’s Welsh team completed basic training in off road driving. The course, provided by Whitecliff 4×4, has BORDA (British Off Road Driving Association) accreditation and complies with workplace health and safety regulations (the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998.
The aim of training was to equip the team with the skills and confidence to drive off road in the mild to moderate terrain that typifies many of the upland sites we work on.It covered practical and theoretical training in offroad driving techniques that included using and maintaining control of the vehicle in different situations, driving through standing water safely (on and off road), dealing with failed hill climbs, loss of traction and emergency stops. Instruction on essential vehicle checks and maintenance was also provided.
Following the course, a member of the Whitecliff team came to the office to demonstrate how what had been learned could be applied when driving the work off road vehicle, an exercise all involved found very useful.
Trevor Fletcher (Senior Ecologist) said, “The 4×4 driving skills and understanding of how a 4×4 works, developed on the training day, have ensured that I have been able to drive the 4×4 vehicle safely and confidently in a range of off road conditions and situations during on site survey work. The training made moving around an extensive proposed wind farm site both safe and time efficient.”