
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) Summit 2024, hosted at the Scandic Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, was attended by more than 300 industry professionals. The event began with a heartfelt and thought-provoking speech by newly elected IPAF President, Karel Huijser. (Find his profile on page 36.) The presentations kicked off with an energetic joint effort by Amanda Tan, IPAF Asia Regional Development Manager, and Diego Bustamante, IPAF Latin America Regional Manager/North America Project Coordinator. Amanda and Diego, representing a new generation of leaders and introducing the summit theme of “Empowering the Next Generation”, highlighted the diverse backgrounds and global coordination within the IPAF team, spanning 14 time zones.
Attendance Was UP!
Emphasizing IPAF’s commitment to innovation and safety, they celebrated a record-breaking year in 2023, issuing over 200,000 PAL Cards, signifying a 12% increase from the previous year. The ePAL digital app achieved over half a million downloads globally, with 62% of PAL Cards issued digitally through this platform. Additionally, key insights from the membership survey underscored the importance of safety, knowledge, and global collaboration within the IPAF community.
Improvements
In 2024, IPAF plans significant enhancements, including improvements to the new IPAF PORTAL to streamline IPAF training center operations and digital testing options. Developments to the recently launched Customer Relationship Management system aim to improve member communications. The highly anticipated new Operator Course, set for release in late 2024, promises to revolutionize powered access training with its global expertise and innovative approach.
IPAF’s commitment to multilingual accessibility continues, with the current Operator Course available in 20 languages and test papers in 44 languages. The focus for 2024 includes expanding operations in China, Saudi Arabia, India, the U.S., and Canada, underlining IPAF’s dedication to promoting safety on a global scale.
AI
Daniel Hulme, CEO and founder of SataliaInternational Powered Access Federation
Elaborating on data-driven decision-making, Daniel built upon the DIKW pyramid, inserting understanding between knowledge and wisdom. He explored the transformative impact of AI on business, inviting questions specific to the powered access industry. Daniel’s presentation ventured into the philosophical aspects of AI, referencing Greek philosopher Socrates. He outlined six key applications of AI:
- Task automation: Macros, RPA, chatbots, and object recognition
- Content generation: Images, video, text, and music
- Human representation: Deepfakes, voice, and personas
- Insight extraction: Machine learning, data science, and analytics
- Decision making: Optimization, decision trees, and expert systems
- Human augmentation: Exoskeletons, avatars, and cybernetics
Highlighting the challenges of AI, Daniel emphasized concerns regarding security, safety, governance, and ethics. Recommendations included using AI for forecasting construction projects, risk assessment for account churn, and automating account management processes to enhance service. The session garnered significant audience engagement and thought-provoking discussion, with Daniel addressing a series of insightful questions.
Future-Proofing Rental
Joel Särkkä, Chief Information Officer of Renta Group Oy, explored future-proofing rental, focusing on Renta’s decentralized model, digitalization, efficiency, and sustainability efforts. Renta prioritizes intelligent fleet management, digitalized processes, and actionable data insights, enhancing customer solutions.
Joel elaborated on Renta’s vision to be the most sustainable and digital partner in the equipment rental industry, aiming to lead in circular economy practices and safety standards. They aim to mitigate environmental impact, excel in health and safety, and uphold responsible corporate governance.
Renta also emphasizes building capabilities to attract diverse talent and promoting employee well-being. Successful future-proofing leads to a more sustainable business, efficient operations, and increased rental penetration, ensuring better access to the workforce and talent retention.
Engaging the Youth
Kasia Gotlib, Senior Product Marketing Specialist at JLG, and James Hahessy, Product Manager of Connected Solutions EMEA at JLG, shared insights into engaging younger generations in the access industry. As millennials and new parents themselves, they highlighted the importance of reaching Generation Z and Generation Alpha, who make up a significant portion of the global population.
The duo stressed that the younger generation in particular favors teamwork, environmental awareness, and continuous learning. They seek investment from employers, open communication, and desire flexible working arrangements. Kasia and James stressed the need to empower and invest in existing talent while fostering a sense of community within the company.
Their presentation resonated with JLG’s commitment to improving team engagement and communication, emphasizing the importance of conveying passion for the industry. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, increasing visibility on platforms preferred by younger generations is crucial.
Strategy
Ali Moore, Relationship Therapist at BeMoore, discussed strategies for integrating young people into the modern workforce and overcoming barriers. She explored the evolution of workplace relationships referencing IPAF’s inception in 1983 to the present day, highlighting shifts in values, priorities, and expectations. Identifying factors affecting young people entering the workforce, Ali addressed issues such as lack of experience, mental health concerns, and the expectation-reality gap. She advocated for creating a movement to improve company culture, offer competitive compensation packages, provide tailored inductions, remove biases in recruitment, and offering employees development opportunities.
Accident Cost
Chris Greenbank, IPAF Digital Marketing ManagerInternational Powered Access Federation
They cited the significant value created by companies investing in digital transformation, with digitally advanced firms outperforming their counterparts by 66%. Collaboration was underscored as pivotal, with leading companies leveraging partnerships to create synergies and alignment across ecosystems.
IPAF and Trackunit are actively collaborating to provide simplified certification management, seamless access to powered access machines, and effortless documentation, addressing complexities and safety concerns. This partnership, leveraging IPAF’s extensive user base of over half a million downloads and Trackunit’s ecosystem, aims to build a safer and more efficient jobsite environment.
In closing, Chris and Domokos demonstrated the unlocking of a scissor lift with the ePAL app via mobile phone, a feature launched in June 2024. The next phase of ePAL app updates will include the automatic completion of the logbook, scheduled for Q3.
Early Talent
In a presentation titled “Building a Workforce for the Future,” Holly Broadhurst, Senior Early Career Scheme Leader at JCB, discussed the company’s dedication to nurturing early career talent. Since its inception in 1945, JCB has acknowledged the significance of investing in talent, with numerous senior leaders commencing their careers within the company. In 2012, JCB revitalized its Early Career Talent (ECT) journey, incorporating graduates, apprentices, and undergraduates. By 2017, they aligned their schemes with government apprenticeship standards, optimizing their workforce for business needs.
Today, JCB focuses on proactively attracting, engaging, and inspiring talent alongside their forty apprenticeship programs. They employ various strategies, including STEM ambassador programs, virtual reality experiences, and targeted outreach to schools and universities. Moreover, they stress the importance of workforce planning, ensuring they have the right skills in place to drive growth and manage attrition effectively. Ultimately, JCB aims to develop a pipeline of talent equipped with the skills, knowledge, and behaviors needed to thrive in a dynamic business environment.
Safety Campaign
Brian Parker, Head of Safety & Technical at IPAF, and Alana Paterson, Head of HSE at Taylor Woodrow, jointly conducted a presentation at the IPAF Summit 2024, unveiling the upcoming Global Safety Campaign titled “CRUSHING CAN KILL!” Their presentation not only introduced the campaign but also delved into the meticulous monitoring of the success of previous safety initiatives. This approach reflects a commitment to continuous improvement and effectiveness in promoting safety within the industry.
IPAF’s focus on the new campaign on entrapment highlights a critical safety issue within the realm of powered access equipment. Entrapment incidents pose significant risks to operators and bystanders, necessitating targeted awareness efforts.
Empowering the Next Generation
Peter Douglas, CEO, and Managing Director, IPAFInternational Powered Access Federation
Delving into topics such as industry dynamics, job-hopping trends, shared company-employee values, and entry barriers, the session offered valuable, forward-thinking perspectives. Notably, the engaging debate sparked considerable interest among older attendees, highlighting the relevance and impact of empowering the future workforce in the ever-evolving powered access industry landscape.
In concluding the IPAF Summit 2024, Peter Douglas, CEO, and Managing Director of IPAF, extended his gratitude to all attendees and speakers for their invaluable contributions to this landmark event held in the Scandic region.