The North American Regional Council of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) will present a new networking event that will address some of the most pressing challenges in Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) – also known as AWPs – and Mast-Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) operations today.
The event (October 16 in Pasadena, Texas) debuts a format never seen before in the powered access industry, bringing together frontline colleagues from manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and service companies – including managers, supervisors, drivers, mechanics, salespersons and operators – to collaborate in creative problem-solving workshops on the first day and to present their proposed solutions to enhance the safety and efficiency of MEWP and MCWP operations the next.
All participants will be able to take away a document of their proposed new ways of working, and one presentation will be selected as having the best chance of an immediate impact on safety and efficiency and IPAF North America will prioritise spreading this idea across the wider industry.
Each attendee will be an active participant in promoting positive changes in the industry, voicing their own unique knowledge and experiences. Each will join one of the ten available workshops facilitated by an IPAF North American Regional Council member – if undecided in advance of the event, participants can specify their preferred workshop during registration on the day.
Unlike other “static” seminars where delegates sit in an auditorium listening to designated speakers deliver set presentations, the format of this event will be much more interactive and will mean that every attendee will share and take away key insights, innovative new ways of working and a lasting network of collaborative colleagues from other companies with whom they will be encouraged to keep working to develop and share wisdom and ideas with peers.
The event begins at noon on October 16, and after a short introduction and orientation the workshops will get to work finding creative solutions to their specific set of challenges and developing a presentation that will be delivered to all the other groups the next day.
The workshop topics will each be led by a designated member of the IPAF North American Regional Council, and the subjects delegates may choose from are: Exiting an elevated work platform; Site risk assessment; Introduction to platform load-sensing; Recognizing and avoiding electrocution; MEWP rescue plans; Do we know what a safe work site is?; Near misses; Retraining; Safe MEWP travelling on site; and Qualified service technicians.
In the evening delegates will experience a cocktail reception and buffet dinner at the world-class NASA Space Center in Houston, where the genius and creativity of the Apollo missions that put men on the moon and the innovation and longevity of NASA’s Shuttle program will form the inspirational backdrop to a memorable evening of dining, discussion and networking.
The next morning all delegates will reconvene at the HASC facility to present their ideas; everyone will get a chance to vote for the ideas and creative solutions they would most like to see implemented right away across the powered access industry.
All participants are guaranteed lo take away valuable insights, ideas for new ways of working, and a powerful network of like-minded individuals with whom they can continue co-ordinating to make our industry safer and more innovative for many years to come.
See www.ipaf.org/innovate for full details and to book your place at this not-to-be-missed event.
