For organisations whose teams need to operate vehicles away from the public highway, driver competence is an important part of managing workplace risk.

That is particularly relevant in construction, engineering and infrastructure, where drivers may need to take 4×4 vehicles onto unmade tracks, construction areas and challenging terrain as part of their normal working day.

Beyond Driving has recently been near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, delivering a series of Lantra 4×4 operator training courses for Laing O’Rourke.

The training provides a useful example of how organisations can extend their approach to health and safety beyond the immediate construction site to include the vehicles their people use and the environments in which they drive.

Health and safety at Laing O’Rourke

Laing O’Rourke is one of the UK’s major engineering and construction organisations, delivering large-scale buildings and infrastructure projects.

Its approach to health and safety is described as Rethinking Safety through Inclusion + Wellbeing, built around three areas: Engineered Safety, Delivery Excellence and Human Performance.  

Importantly, Laing O’Rourke’s published Health and Safety Policy specifically identifies a “well-trained, highly competent workforce and supply chain” as part of its approach. It also places emphasis on continually reducing risk and maintaining safe working environments.  

Driver training fits naturally within that wider emphasis on competence.

For employees required to operate 4×4 vehicles off road, holding a driving licence does not necessarily mean they have the knowledge and practical skills needed to assess difficult terrain and operate the vehicle appropriately.

Why off-road driving requires different skills

Modern 4×4 vehicles can make difficult terrain appear deceptively straightforward.

Electronic traction systems, hill descent control, automatic transmissions and increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology can all help the driver. They do not, however, replace the need to understand the terrain and make appropriate decisions.

The photographs from our recent Laing O’Rourke training near Market Rasen illustrate this well.

Drivers encountered steep gradients, uneven ground, rutted tracks and areas where vehicle positioning and controlled use of the available traction were important.

The objective isn’t simply to demonstrate that a 4×4 can negotiate an obstacle. It is to help the driver develop the judgement required to decide whether an obstacle should be attempted and, if so, how to approach it safely.

That distinction is particularly important when 4×4 driving forms part of someone’s work rather than being a recreational activity.

What does Lantra 4×4 operator training cover?

Lantra’s Off Road Vehicle Operating (4×4) training is designed for people who operate off-road vehicles in an off-road working environment and for organisations seeking to address health and safety requirements surrounding their use.  

Training encompasses far more than vehicle handling.

Drivers learn to identify risks associated with off-road vehicle use, carry out pre-start checks, prepare a vehicle for off-road operation and assess the suitability of the ground and proposed route.

A particularly important aspect is structured decision-making.

Before tackling difficult terrain, drivers need to consider the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle, available traction, gradients, ground conditions, obstacles and the consequences of something going wrong.

Lantra training therefore includes assessing routes and making structured decisions about whether and how obstacles should be tackled.  

Building competence rather than simply completing a course

For an employer, effective occupational driver training should ultimately be about competence rather than certificates.

A certificate provides evidence that training has taken place. The more significant benefit is giving employees practical skills they can subsequently apply when they are working independently.

This is one reason Beyond Driving’s courses combine underpinning knowledge with practical vehicle operation.

During the recent courses for Laing O’Rourke, delegates were able to experience different types of terrain in a controlled training environment, including significant gradients and uneven surfaces.

They could develop their understanding of vehicle positioning, observation, traction and speed control while receiving direct guidance from an experienced instructor.

It is considerably better to encounter these situations for the first time during structured training than when trying to reach a work site.

4×4 training as part of occupational driving risk management

Vehicle-related risk doesn’t stop when a driver leaves the public highway.

Organisations operating across construction, utilities, engineering, environmental management and infrastructure can have employees travelling to locations where conventional road-driving skills are no longer sufficient.

The risks can also change rapidly. Rain can transform a previously straightforward route, while vegetation, erosion, deep ruts and repeated vehicle movements can alter ground conditions.

Effective training helps drivers recognise those changes rather than simply relying on the capability of the vehicle.

For businesses such as Laing O’Rourke, this complements a broader approach to managing workplace risk and maintaining workforce competence.

Lantra 4×4 training for businesses across the UK

Beyond Driving provides Lantra 4×4 operator training for businesses and organisations throughout the UK.

Courses can be arranged for individual operators or groups and can be tailored to the operational requirements of an organisation. Where appropriate, training can also reflect the types of vehicles and conditions employees encounter during their work.

Beyond Driving regularly works with organisations whose employees operate vehicles in demanding environments, including construction and engineering businesses, utility companies, environmental organisations and public-sector bodies.

Our recent training near Market Rasen is another example of that approach: providing Laing O’Rourke personnel with practical, nationally recognised 4×4 training that supports the company’s wider commitment to workforce competence and safe working practices.

For a detailed explanation of course content, certification and the different levels of training available, read our ⁠Ultimate Guide to Lantra 4×4 Training.

Alternatively, contact Beyond Driving to discuss Lantra 4×4 operator training for your organisation.