17.03.2022

Using aerial lifts in public places

The International Powered Access Federation - IPAF - has published new guidance outlining the key principles and ways to reduce likely risks when using aerial work platforms in public areas and near roads.

The new guidance document, entitled Safe Use of MEWPs in Public Areas, is available to view or download free of charge in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, simplified Chinese and Spanish and is also available print-ready so organisations can produce their own hard copies if they so wish.
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IPAF’s head of safety & technical, Brian Parker 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 work platforms are being used in areas where members of the public might be present, which is more challenging to control, i.e. not always segregated from unrelated work activities, vehicular traffic or the general public.

Mark Keily, chairman of IPAF’s International Safety Committee which helped compile and develop the guidance added: “IPAF incident data for 2019 and 2020 indicates that approximately a 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 document is intended to highlight the relevant hazards and associated risks when a platform is to be used in public areas, which are often more challenging to control than other work sites. We urge all Users to view and download a copy without delay.

The document can be downloaded from www.ipaf.org/en-gb/resource-library/safe-use-mewps-public-areas