Manufacturers are encouraged to commit to a pledge to help ensure all operators of boom-type mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) wear the correct full-body harness and lanyard.
On September 5, International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) held a signing event during the BICES event in Beijing, China, which renews and reinforces a mass pledge signed at the IPAF Asia Conference & Showcase 2017 in Changsha, China.
“Already we have the support of IPAF members in making the correct type of full-body harness and adjustable fall-restraint lanyard available to all operators of boom-type MEWPs in China and the wider region," BaiRi, IPAF’s China Representative says. The pledge is a renewal of that commitment and to ensure that the operators are properly trained and understand the importance of wearing a harness and lanyard at all times and in the correct way. It is important all operators and occupants of boom-type platforms wear a harness and lanyard as per the guidance in IPAF’s global H1: Fall protection in MEWPs technical guidance, which has been recently updated and is available in multiple languages, including English and simplified Chinese."
The pledge helps prevent occupants from falling from boom-type MEWPs, which is one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities.
“We must as an industry strive to reduce and eradicate these common causes of accidents when using MEWPs, and wearing the correct harness and fall-restraint lanyard in all boom-type platforms is key to this,” BaiRi says.
Along with the signing, IPAF showed a specific safety campaign information including a demonstration of how to select and wear a harness, the dangers of the catapult effect and how to work safely alongside roads and in public places with MEWPs.
