New working at height guidance from IPAF
23 March 2022
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has published new safety guidance that aims to help aerial platform users reduce risks to safety when working in public areas and near roads.
The new ‘Safe Use of MEWPS in Public’ Areas document - published in English, Dutch, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Korean and simple Chinese, was created in partnership with the International Safety Council (ISC).
Mark Keily of Sunbelt Rentals and chair of the ISC, said, “IPAF incident data for 2019 and 2020 indicates that approximately one third of all reported fatal or injury incidents occurred in an environment that would be classed as public areas and highways. This is consistent with data from previous reports covering 2016-2018.”
“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, which are often more challenging to control than other work sites.
Free to view and download from IPAF’s online resourace library, the document details best practice measures that can be implemented in locations where public and/or vehicles are not prohibited.
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 recognised 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, ie 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 roads.”
