A campaign emphasizing the importance of working safely to avoid falls from the platform when using MEWPs to enable temporary work at height has been launched by the IPAF at its annual Summit in London, United Kingdom, on March 10, 2022. The Don’t Fall For It! safety campaign outlines the possible underlying causes of falls from the platform when using MEWPs, which almost always lead to serious injury or death. It offers operators and managers key advice to mitigate the most common risks and avoid accidents of this type, as identified in IPAF’s ongoing incident reporting and analysis via the www.ipafaccidentreporting.org portal.
Peter Douglas, CEO of IPAF, said, “MEWPs are designed to safely conduct temporary work at height in just about every environment, but every year, the most common type of accident we see reported are falls from the platform, which as you can imagine nearly always lead to serious injury or death if they occur while using machines at height.
“We are determined that our new Don’t Fall For It! safety campaign will help to instill safe working practices and remind operators and managers of basic positive steps they can take to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring. The messaging is simple—select the correct machine for the job, don’t take risks and wear the correct personal fall protection equipment.”
Brian Parker, IPAF’s head of safety & technical, said, “Operators can help avoid this type of accident by focusing on the principles we’ve set out as part of this campaign. If they are properly trained and familiarized on the MEWPs being used, then hopefully none of this guidance should be new, but complacency breeds contempt, and principles of safe use are too often ignored.
“With this safety campaign, IPAF is saying that, if you find yourself tempted to do something different to what you know is the right and proper way to work, or if you are ever asked to do something that you think just isn’t safe by a work colleague or supervisor, then ‘don’t fall for it!’”
IPAF
Key points of guidance in the IPAF Don’t Fall For It! global safety campaign include:
- Plan thoroughly: Conduct a proper MEWP site survey/assessment, select the correct machine for the work and use professionally trained operator(s) and supervisor(s).
- Know your machine: Operators should be trained on the machine type they are using and familiarized on the specific model. Operators should assess that the machine is suitable for the task and conditions and adequate in terms of reach, articulation and load-bearing capacity. Machine knowledge includes whether personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) should be used and, if so, what type to use and how to attach it.
- Clip on: If PFPE is required, all occupants of the platform must attach their lanyard to the correct anchor point. Ensure movement within the platform is possible while attached and do not move the machine or elevate the platform until and unless all occupants are attached.
- Set up and maneuver the machine/platform effectively: Occupants should never need to over-reach, unfasten PFPE, step or climb on guardrails or otherwise extend the safe working envelope of the platform. Ensure vertical MEWPs are positioned and repositioned as necessary to allow easy access to the area of work to be undertaken; operators should not overreach or stand on guardrails to access a work area instead of taking the time and effort to correctly reposition the machine.
- Stay inside the platform/attached: Platform guardrails form the primary fall prevention and define the operational envelope of the machine being used. Always stay inside the platform. Where there is a requirement for PFPE, you must wear it. Do not exit the platform at height; unclip only on completion of work and safely lowered to the ground.
For more information on all of IPAF’s safety campaigns and links to relevant technical guidance, visit www.ipaf.org/safe or see www.ipaf.org/training and www.ipaf.org/resources for the full range of IPAF training course and the latest safety and technical guidance materials from IPAF.
IPAF
IPAF supports OSHA’s Safety Stand-Down initiative
The IPAF North America Regional Council supported OSHA’s Safety Stand-Down May 2-6. A Safety stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on “fall hazards” and reinforcing the importance of “fall prevention.” Anyone seeking to prevent hazards in the workplace is invited to participate in OSHA’s Stand-Down events.
Companies were encouraged to conduct a safety stand-down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans or discussing job specific hazards. IPAF supported this OSHA initiative and recognizes the need to focus working on safely working at heights, especially when working from powered access equipment. IPAF has developed many posters and toolbox talks that companies can freely use by downloading at www.ipaf.org/ToolboxTalks.
IPAF offers a wide range of posters and related Toolbox Talks associated with falling hazards: attach your lanyard, do not jump out of the platform, setting up on a slope (tipover), correct MEWP selection, being street smart, do not use a damaged harness, lanyard, connector; keep occupants safe; rescue plans; don’t overload the platform.
Karin Nars gives inaugural address to close IPAF Summit 2022.IPAF
IPAF Launches Women in Powered Access Initiative
IPAF has launched its Women in Powered Access initiative, which aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in powered access, as well as outlining career pathways for women both already in the industry and looking to enter it.
The initiative was launched at the Vertikal Days industry event in Peterborough, UK, in May, and has been inspired by IPAF President Karin Nars, who became the first woman elected to the role when she was confirmed at the IPAF AGM in London in March. Karin Nars joined other IPAF team members and powered access engineering apprentices Catherine McCreedy and Megan Campbell to help launch the initiative.
Karin Nars says: “Inclusion is important because it enables people to share different perspectives in a supportive environment. Safety is a joint effort to which everybody can and should contribute to. Therefore, we cannot afford to exclude anybody from the conversation surrounding safety in our industry and the actions we recommend. While we may work in a male-dominated business, there is more to the story than that.
“An important step is to encourage more women to bring their knowledge, passion and work ethic to our industry. The difference they can make can be a positive in many ways. We have thousands of women in our industry whose stories have not been told. And their stories are something young women need to see and hear – to help them become inspired and learn about paths women have taken in our industry. As an organization, we can help share such stories.”
As part of the initiative, IPAF is inviting women from all walks of powered access to tell their stories, which will be shared via the IPAF website (www.ipaf.org/resources) and across industry media, with a view to inspiring and encouraging others in our industry and showcasing diversity.
Pedro Torres Riwal.IPAF
Riwal is IPAF Sustaining Member
Riwal has become the latest Sustaining Member of IPAF, making it the first rental and training company on a list that includes Alimak, AON, APEX and Haulotte. With headquarters in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Riwal was founded in 1968 and has grown into a major rental and training company specializing in working safely and efficiently at height in 16 territories, including the Middle East and India.
Romina Vanzi, IPAF’s head of regional development, said, “Riwal has long been an active member of IPAF, with representation on various committees and councils, so to have them as a sustaining member is the perfect way of consolidating our efforts to promote our shared goal of enhancing safety in powered access worldwide. It will be particularly beneficial for IPAF to have a member engaged in equipment rental and training in both established and emerging markets around the globe join the growing list of IPAF Sustaining Members.”
Sustaining Member is a category of IPAF membership designed to recognize and sustain IPAF’s strategic initiatives and overall contribution to improving safety and productivity in powered access worldwide. Peter Douglas, CEO of IPAF, said, “The past two years have demonstrated how important it is to work together for the collective benefit of safety in our industry, and we’ve worked especially hard to emphasize the value that IPAF offers members. IPAF can’t progress objectives without our members, including improving global incident reporting and developing our training program and safety guidance in response to what accident data is telling us. We are delighted that Riwal has decided to join this membership category.”
Mark Keily, Chair of IPAF ISC, launches MEWPs in Public Areas guidance.IPAF
IPAF Publishes Guidance on Using MEWPs in Public Areas
Comprehensive new guidance outlining the key principles and ways to reduce likely risks when using MEWPs in public areas and near roads has been published by IPAF. Safe Use of MEWPs in Public Areas, has been developed by IPAF in collaboration with its International Safety Council (ISC) and supporting members and is available to view or download free of charge in digital format and is also available print-ready so organizations can produce their own hard copies if they so wish.
Brian Parker, IPAF’s head of safety & technical, said, “The use of powered access to provide an effective means of access to work at height is constantly increasing worldwide as the productivity and safety benefits are recognized by businesses and employers alike and an increasing number of MEWPs are being used in areas where members of the public might be present, which is more challenging to control, for example, not always segregated from unrelated work activities, vehicular traffic or the general public.
“Thanks to the input of Mark Keily from Sunbelt Rentals and the International Safety Committee he chairs, this new guidance is truly the result of a global collaborative effort. Compiling and reviewing the guidance has been an exhaustive process, and IPAF hopes it will become a valuable desktop and workplace point of reference when planning any work involving MEWPs in a public area or alongside highways.”
Mark Keily added, “This new Safe Use of MEWPs in Public Areas document is intended to highlight the relevant hazards and associated risks when a MEWP is to be used in public areas and identifies measures that can be implemented to eliminate or reduce the risk of an incident or injury when using a MEWP in locations other than fixed construction sites or commercial premises. We urge users of MEWPs in these settings to view and download a copy without delay, free of charge.”
● Visit www.ipaf.org/resources to view or download the IPAF Safe Use of MEWPs in Public Areas guidance. Please use www.ipafaccidentreporting.org to report incidents and near misses.
IPAF
Eagle Platforms Becomes IPAF Sustaining Member
Eagle Platforms has become IPAF’s latest Sustaining Member, making it the first UK-headquartered rental and training company in a growing list that includes Alimak, AON, APEX, Haulotte and Riwal.
With headquarters in Anston, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Eagle Platforms provides powered access machine hire and quality training. The company is accredited to IPAF Rental+ Standard, and becomes the sixth IPAF member worldwide to be confirmed as a Sustaining Member.
Dan Stewart, Managing Director, says: “Being a member of IPAF is very important to us here at Eagle Platforms – whether that is in terms of underpinning the quality powered access training we offer, or accrediting our business to the IPAF Rental+ quality assurance standard, which demonstrates to our clients that we are committed to the highest levels of safety, excellence in customer service and improving our green credentials.
“As a business we are whole-hearted supporters of all the work that IPAF does for our industry – not just in the UK but around the world – and so we are pleased and proud to sign up to become a Sustaining Member of the federation; we would encourage others to adopt a similar approach and work together with IPAF to create a safer, more sustainable industry.”
Peter Douglas, CEO of IPAF, says: “Both during the pandemic, and as we emerge out of it, our industry has been faced with challenges in terms of economic volatility. It is more important than ever that IPAF continues to support and recognize its members, and that we acknowledge those members who choose to help sustain all of the work that IPAF does.”
● To find out more about IPAF membership and to become a member of IPAF please visit www.ipaf.org/become-member or to learn about IPAF Sustaining Membership click here.
