20.05.2014

IPAF inspection guidance

The International Powered Access Federation has released a new technical guidance document covering the major inspection of aerial work platforms.

The guidance document outlines an inspection scheme to validate structural integrity and functionality of critical components and suggests that work platforms should undergo major inspection within 10 years of it initially going into service and every five years after that (10, 15, 20 years). It also reiterates that equipment owners have a legal obligation to ensure that aerial work platforms are maintained in good repair and safe working order by implementing regular inspection and maintenance programmes in accordance with all relevant regulations, legislation, directives, standards and manufacturer requirements.

The inspection scheme can also be used to assist owners in determining if a aerial work platform is within safe design and use criteria, when they acquire a machine with insufficient service maintenance history and inspection records, or suspect a machine has been exposed to exceptional circumstances which may have affected its structural integrity, thus jeopardising its safe use.
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IPAF's a new technical guidance document covers the inspection of aerial work platforms

IPAF technical & safety executive Chris Wraith said: “The growing demand around the world for second-hand machines and the retention of machines in some rental fleets has led to the use of them beyond the original design life. We need to recognise that there are machines in use which have either have been in service for 10 years or more, yet may not have reached their design life with regard to usage, or have reached their design life prior to 10 years because of intensive usage or use in a severe operating environments. This is where the new guidance comes in.”

The guidance is available on the association's Publications/Technical Guidance section of its website at: www.ipaf.org/inspections.