Here we go again, please be advised that i am not mad, merely being put under pressure to do things which i know are wrong!. Here goes! My employers son has recently left school, he will be 17 in September, i have been asked to find a way of getting him training to operate a large excavator, i have searched and searched, oh how i have searched, but cannot find a trainer who will give certification to a 17 year old. Comments would be appreciated please, and yes i know the outcome, but some literature to poke under the bosses nose would be most helpful. Cheers!

CPCS training is not available to persons under the age of 18yrs, for excavators. As already stated Young persons RA for site work is required. Is your employer prepared to stand by his own judgement and deem his son competent, if so then allow him to do so, just make sure that you have it in written form from him, and that you have explained that he will be liable for calamities involving his son.

Don't think you'll find they can legally do that anymore.

As A trainer in mobile plant for the last 12 years I can assure you that any professional trainer will not touch this one with a barge pole and any customer of your employers engaged in construction or muck shifting would not allow him on site as an operator.
Reg 9 of puwer and in particular guidance 186 along with MHSWR give you all the information you should need to make your employer see sense. It is the lack of hazard perception that young people display due to lack of experience that exclude his son from operating a machine with such a high risk potential. Perhaps you should point out to your employer the high risk potential that exists in terms of the loss or injury of his son should he "get it wrong" while operating a large excavator, and if that doesn't work the loss of businees and reputation if his own son were involved in a major incident. Someone who is willing to expose thier own child to such danger would not be viewed in a good light as a responsible employer.

Try National Construction College www.cskills.org
Bircham Newton do apprenticeships in Plant Operations for both civil engineering plant and construction plant. If your employer is insisting on training him this would probably be the best route, I used to work there and know the facilities are good and if the company are registered you may also be able to claim grants for training.

I would like to thank you all for your input, errr, as i expected the answers to be, and entirely my judgement, but now at least i have some others input that i can present my employer with and hopefully defuse this situation. Thankyou all once again!

Or advise him to join the Army and in particular the Royal Engineers, which he can do at 17 yrs.

http://www.army.mod.uk/join/20145.aspx