A little character called Andy Access is driving home safety messages about the correct use of aerial work platforms (AWPs), also known as mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), in a simple and direct way.
Contractors, end-users and rental companies can download free poster artwork for use in their daily operations, as part of IPAF’s Andy Access campaign.
Posters that provide an easy to understand visual safety message form the basis of this campaign. Each poster illustrates a specific safety message on how to use AWPs/MEWPs correctly.
Andy Access was born out of an initiative by IPAF members to do more for safety and bring out issues to reach the main users of AWPs/MEWPs.
“Andy Access is the good guy,” says Chris Wraith, IPAF technical & safety executive, who has been behind the project to bring the campaign to life. “Andy knows that AWPs/MEWPs are one of the safest ways to perform temporary work at height, but he also recognizes that they can pose significant and unnecessary risks when used by untrained people or used incorrectly and inappropriately. Andy serves as the guardian of AWP/MEWP safety and he conveys key messages ranging from the use of harnesses and the need to assess ground conditions, to avoiding the potential risks of entrapment and electrocution.
“Hugh Hazard is the antagonist,” explains Wraith further. “He is not inherently bad; he does his job as best as he can, but often succumbs to time and resource pressures. Hugh is susceptible to cutting corners, such as not performing a risk assessment before starting the job, or tampering with safety devices to get a quick fix for the immediate problem instead of looking for the safer, proper solution. Hugh shows ‘how not to do it’ while Andy highlights the errors and reinforces good practice.”
The Andy Access posters communicate important safety messages highlighted by the results of IPAF’s global accident reporting project (www.ipaf.com/accident). They also reinforce the key messages covered in IPAF’s training programs.
Ideas for more Andy Access safety themes can be e-mailed to [email protected]
Download the posters now and keep checking back for more updates at www.ipaf.com/andyaccess
