As Bob Dylan might put it, the times they are a-changing. Of this there is no doubt. The way in which we go about our daily lives, be it out and about or at work is not set to return to ‘normality’ any time soon. That being said, some things must continue and with construction work still going, warehouses working overtime picking online orders and on lockdown measures set to be eased, there are many people working at height. This remains the number one cause of injuries and fatalities in the workplace although massive increases in training and the great number of superb quality training programmes available in the UK have certainly helped in beginning to turn a corner.

So, Eagle Platforms are not about to let up in our quest for safely training delegates to work at height using best practice, compliant with the latest guidelines and helping many obtain PASMA and IPAF certificates, boosting their economic prospects as well as their ability to stay safe and help their colleagues stay safe too. There are aspects of almost all of the courses on offer, be they IPAF or PASMA accredited, that require physical attendance, as there are practical elements that must be demonstrated and fully understood before passing the courses. For these elements strict social distancing is in place and our instructors will take every precaution to ensure the safety of each and every delegate while on one of our courses. This takes precedence over everything, without in any way diluting the quality of training received.

With the practical elements taken care of on-site in much changed conditions, with all necessary precautions taken, that leaves the bulk of the training to be undertaken online over the course of remote sessions using Microsoft Teams or Zoom. If you are not familiar with Zoom or Microsoft Teams, you are not alone – prior to the Coronavirus and associated lockdown it was probably a bit of software mainly used in IT-heavy circles, but now it is a vital bit of kit used in a vast array of professions and industries. University professors have been using these to give their lectures, enabling students to carry on with their learning – at least to a degree, and our instructors have also got to grips with its potential as a great way to provide courses, while respecting social distancing.

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool providing remote ability to work together, sharing information across a common platform. There are a whole swathe of impressive features that make Teams the perfect choice for Eagle Platforms, including one-on-one chat, group chat, document collaboration and many more besides with the video meeting function being the overriding method of use. Furthermore Microsoft Teams is a commonly available extension available through Office 365. It is hard to understate the role Teams will play in the near future with social distancing expected to remain a feature of society for at least another year. Rest assured, no matter what the future holds, Eagle Platforms will remain your go-to company for safe working at height training.