Award-winning powered access trainer Phil Drayton is using World Sight Day (8th October) to show how visual impairment need not get in the way of continuing a successful career.
After glaucoma left him unable to drive and deliver courses in person, the Senior Training Instructor drew on almost five decades of experience to move into delivering virtual training for managers at Loxam Nationwide Platforms.
Phil first operated a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) in February 1978 while working for EPL Access. Apart from around one year outside the sector, he has spent his entire career – almost five decades — in powered access.
He joined Loxam Nationwide Platforms in August 2001 as part of the Sales Team at its former London West depot. After around two years hiring out machines, Phil responded to an open call for training instructors and qualified as an IPAF Operator Instructor.
“After qualifying, I went on to deliver training at sites across the country,” Phil said. “I loved it. I was able to travel all over, including to naval and air bases, and I met so many people.”
Phil later progressed to become a Senior IPAF Instructor, enabling him to deliver five-day instructor courses, and has since trained more than 75 people to become IPAF instructors. He also became an IPAF Examiner – a role held by only around eight to ten people in the UK at any one time – and led the company’s instructor team across the South.
Phil was named Training Instructor of the Year at the 2022 International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs), which he describes as being among the proudest moments of his career.
However, Phil’s working life changed suddenly following a routine eye examination. A pressure test led to an emergency referral and a diagnosis of glaucoma, a condition which damages the optic nerve and can cause permanent sight loss. After subsequently receiving a letter from the DVLA stating that he must no longer drive, Phil feared that the travel required for his role meant his career was over.
“When I opened the letter and saw the words ‘you must not drive’, I thought that was the end of my career,” said Phil. “Travelling had always been a fundamental part of being an instructor, so there were two or three weeks when I was very apprehensive about what would happen next.
“I have since had six operations, including cataract removal and surgery to prevent my glaucoma from deteriorating further. The treatment cannot restore the sight I have lost, but without it I was told I could have become blind within two years.”
Rather than lose Phil’s extensive technical and training expertise, Loxam Nationwide Platforms worked with him to reshape his role. He now delivers the seven-hour MEWPs for Managers course remotely and supports the development of additional courses for the company’s training portfolio.
The MEWPs for Managers course helps those responsible for planning and supervising work at height understand their legal duties and the practical measures needed to protect operators. It covers areas including machine selection and familiarisation, pre-use inspections, rescue planning and supervision on site.
Phil said: “I like to feel that, when the course finishes, participants have a much better understanding of their responsibilities. Maintaining the integrity of the course and not cutting corners is vital because, above all, safety is paramount and cutting corners could endanger delegates.
“We cannot assume that eliminating one source of human error will prevent every accident, so we have to be as proactive as possible. Whether someone is working on a big project like HS2 or a smaller project, the people involved are more important than the job itself.”
The virtual role allows Phil to continue sharing specialist advice with managers throughout the UK without needing to travel. When he is not delivering Virtual MEWPs for Managers courses, he works closely with colleagues to develop new courses for the company’s wider training portfolio, including Big Kit Familiarisation and 1B for Managers.
“Working from home has made it amazingly easy to join a course and begin teaching,” Phil added. “You do miss some of the interaction that comes with face-to-face training, but I still get to meet people from across the country and use the knowledge I have built over many years. The feedback shows that the course is helping people, and that is what I enjoy most.”
World Sight Day is an annual campaign which focuses global attention on the importance of eye health. Phil is using the occasion to encourage people to attend regular eye examinations and to reassure those whose sight loss has affected their work that their experience can remain valuable.
“I have worn glasses all my life, but an eye examination is about far more than whether you need a new prescription,” he said. “An optician can identify all sorts of issues, and eyesight is so important to our wellbeing that damage to it can be life-changing. I would encourage everybody to have their eyes tested regularly.
“For anyone with a visual impairment who can no longer do their previous job, there are still plenty of opportunities. Speak to your employer about roles you could move into and think about how your expertise could be used through online training, reviews or technical support. The work may look different, but that does not mean your knowledge is no longer needed.
“I’m very proud of my length of service and overall career, and I’ve always found the company to be very supportive,” Phil said. “Every manager I have had has encouraged my career aspirations, and I would not be where I am today without them. I would also like to give a special thank you to Kate Bell, Head of Partnerships and Training, who was instrumental in ensuring I could stay with the company and deliver virtual training after my glaucoma diagnosis.”
Karen Maguire, HR Director at Loxam Nationwide Platforms, said: “Phil’s story demonstrates the value of listening to colleagues and making thoughtful adjustments when their circumstances change. His knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to safety have been built over an exceptional career, and they continue to benefit managers and operators across the country.
“We are proud that Phil remains part of our Training Team. His experience is also an important reminder that a health diagnosis does not have to bring someone’s career to an end when employers and employees can work together to find a practical way forward.”
For more information about Loxam Nationwide Platforms, visit:
https://www.nationwideplatforms.co.uk/en-gb
