Smart Pal Cards Arrive in 2015 | Industry News

All PAL Cards issued by the International Powered Access Federation for training on or after Jan. 1, 2015, will be machine-readable. This move aims to improve site safety as Smart PAL Cards may be used to ensure that only trained operators can use mobile-elevating work platforms and mast-climbing work platforms on site.

The Smart PAL Card is marked by a wireless icon and has a chip embedded in it. The data stored on the card, such as the operator name, number and categories trained in, is also printed on it, which means that the Smart PAL Card can still be used as a standard version.

The data in the chip can be read by a card reader fitted to the machine. The reader can be set up to accept certain data (e.g. level of training, machine categories) which in turn will allow the machine to be operated. This means that a machine can be programmed to start only if the operator has had the correct training.