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Membership
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IPAF is registered with the UK Financial Services Authority as an industrial and provident society (No. 30998R) and therefore must have two levels of membership:
• Full members who have full voting rights and full access to all member services, and
• Associate members (associations, company associates, press, individual associates and small users) who do not have full voting rights, but have full access to all member services.
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A proposer or seconder needs to be a senior manager or director within their organisation deemed to be able to speak for and represent their organisation.
Associate members may not act as proposers and seconders. Independent instructors may propose and second instructors, but not companies.
Training
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Council Directive 2009/104/EC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work OJ L260/5 Article 9 states:
"Without prejudice to Article 12 of Directive 89/391/EEC, the employer shall take the measures necessary to ensure that:
(a) workers given the task of using work equipment receive adequate training, including training on any risks which such use may entail;
(b) workers referred to in the second indent of Article 6(b) receive adequate specific training."
Article 6(b) states: "in the case of repairs, modifications, maintenance or servicing, the workers concerned are specifically designated to carry out such work."
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In order to deliver IPAF training courses, you need to be employed by an IPAF training centre or become a registered IPAF independent instructor member.
To become an IPAF instructor, you must meet the following criteria:
• 36 months’ MEWP operating experience
• IPAF Operator Licence held for 6 months minimum
• IPAF Demonstrator Licence held for 3 months minimum
• IPAF MEWPs for Managers course successfully completed
• Evidence of Acceptable Instructional Techniques training (3 days minimum)
• Successful completion of an approved Harness Instructor course
• Evidence of IPAF MEWP-specific Instructor training (4 days minimum)
• Evidence of HSE required standard for First Aid at Work training level
• Successful completion of IPAF Instructor Examination
• Mentoring
(Full details are in the IPAF MEWP Operations Manual, Chapter 2.1.2)
To become an independent instructor member, please e-mail the IPAF Instructor Administration Officer.
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If operators want to add a category to their PAL Card, they need to successfully complete the IPAF approved Theory Test Paper. In addition to this, they must achieve the required standard when operating each of the machine categories that they wish to add on to their PAL Card.
If demonstrators want to add a category to their PAL Card, they must do the operator theory test and practical test on that category, then do the demonstrator course.
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If you contact the IPAF training centre where you were trained, they will be able to replace your licence for a small fee.
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Contact an IPAF training centre. Only operators or demonstrators who have been filling out their log books (60 entries over 5 years, 10 of which should be in the final year prior to expiry) will be eligible for a renewal test. Those who have not been filling out their log books will have to re-sit the operator course again.
All renewals must be done before the expiry date. Otherwise, an operator will have to do a full operator course and a demonstrator must do the full operator and demonstrator course.
Full details are in the IPAF MEWP Operations Manual, Chapter 2.2.2.
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Yes, provided that there are suitable facilities and equipment. Please discuss with your selected training centre.
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The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) scheme is an operative record scheme approved by many sites worldwide including the UK Contractors Group (UKCG) and individuals holding an IPAF qualification should be welcomed on UKCG sites.
See references from the UKCG and ConstructionSkills.
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The PAL Card is increasingly recognised worldwide. However, the employer and usually also the self-employed have a duty to know and abide by the legislation of the country they are planning to work in. IPAF may be able to assist with a summary of the legislation for countries in which we operate (please contact the IPAF head office in the UK). Ultimately it will be down to the site manager or equivalent at the differing work sites in each country to decide whether they are willing to accept the training you have received. IPAF's increasing worldwide reputation means that the PAL Card’s acceptance is growing daily.
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Safety awareness relevant to MEWPs is an integral part of the IPAF course and therefore previous safety awareness is not necessary for the operator, demonstrator and instructor courses.
Some sites do however require a health and safety test prior to working on their site. See: http://www.cskills.org/supportbusiness/healthsafety/test/index.aspx
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IPAF suggests that the operator should have the issued card on his/her person at all times when working with MEWPs and the employer should keep the certificate.
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Yes, you need training, and there is a half-day course for this. If you have an existing licence with Static Vertial (1a), Mobile Vertical (3a) or the old category Scissor Lift (SL), you will only require familiarisation on the machine, which should be recorded in your IPAF log book.
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IPAF recommends a suitable telehandler licence, an IPAF PAL Card with the category Static Boom (1b), and familiarisation on the specific machine to be used.
Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) Use
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No, only the operator requires a licence. However, the passenger will be required to wear the correct PPE.
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No, unless a rigorous risk assessment carried out as part of planning the job indicates that this is the safest and most effective means of accessing a particular location, taking into account the availability on site of other more suitable access equipment and the practicability of providing the same within the required timescales for the task to be carried out.
See IPAF's technical guidance E2 on exiting the platform at height and this extract from BS 8460 (the British Standard on “Safe use of MEWPs – Code of practice”) on the subject.
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A MEWP should be inspected, and the inspection documented, every morning prior to use. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998, Regulation 9 states that:
"Every employer shall ensure that lifting equipment which is exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is-"
"Thoroughly examined-"
"In the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons or an accessory for lifting, at least every 6 months."
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It varies from job to job - check.
Invariably the party paying for the MEWP will be responsible - so check the ground conditions.
Assuming otherwise could be expensive if not accounted for in the quote.
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Yes – if it is adjustable and used correctly as a restraint device (adjusted to be as short as possible), the lanyard will not be able to gain sufficient force/momentum to deploy the shock absorbing pack, thereby acting as a restraint lanyard.
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Employers have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare at work of all of their employees. It is the employer’s duty to assess risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risks where necessary.
Please refer to the HSE guidance paper - Working Alone in Safety: Controlling the risks of solitary work: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf
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All MEWPs (except those designed specifically for indoor use) are designed to operate in wind speeds up to a maximum which should be marked on the machine. Operation in wind speeds above this maximum may cause instability.
Under BS EN280:2001+A2:2009 (Mobile elevating work platforms – Design calculations – Stability criteria – Construction – Safety – Examinations and tests) the maximum design wind speed in which a MEWP can work is 12.5 m/s (28 mph). Wind forces are assumed to act horizontally at the centre of area of the parts of the MEWP and persons and equipment on the work platform, and shall be taken to be dynamic forces. This does not apply to MEWPs intended for indoor use only.
Wind speed can be measured using an anemometer.
It is very important to realise that wind speed increases with height and may be 50% greater at a height of 20 metres above ground level.
Care must be taken when handling building cladding, sheet materials, panels and other such materials which can act as "sails" and seriously affect the stability of a MEWP, especially in gusty wind conditions. For the same reason, signboards and the like must not be applied even temporarily to the platform.
You should be aware of the shielding and funnelling effects of high buildings which may cause high wind speeds on days when the wind speed in open areas is low.
Other sources of local high wind speed to consider are aircraft slipstreams at airports and high-sided vehicles on motorways.
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The European safety in design standard for mobile elevating work platforms, i.e. EN280:2001, allows non-physical guarding to protect against contact with the lift mechanism of scissor lifts. This applies to scissor lifts that can pass through openings of 1.2m width and 2m height. EN280 is currently being revised and it has been proposed that this should apply to all scissor lifts. IPAF supports this proposal.
More detail: http://www.ipaf.org/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/en/ScissorLiftMechanismGuarding.pdf
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The European law relating to the fitting and use of tachographs to record drivers' hours of work is contained in EC Council Regulation 3821/85.
All vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible weight coming within the scope of EC Council Regulation 3820/85 used for carrying goods (including the weight of any trailer drawn) must be fitted with an EC approved tachograph to record not only the driver's hours but, if a second driver is carried, his working periods also.
Exception to this rule:
A vehicle carrying goods, having a permissible maximum weight, not exceeding 7.5 tonnes and carrying material or equipment for the driver's use in the course of his work, within a 50 kilometre radius of the place where the vehicle is normally based and provided driving the vehicle is not the driver's main activity. This requirement also applies to journeys made to or through AETR member countries.
See: http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Quick%20guide%20to%20towing%20small%20trailers.pdf
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IPAF provides the following quick reference guides for suppliers and users.
Issues covered include:
• Machine weights and permissible loads
• Taxation and regulations affecting vehicle mounted MEWPs used in the highway
• Schedule 3, Engineering Plant
• Extracts from Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 1998, The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 s49-(1) - Vehicles fitted with a moveable platform.
Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) Use
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No – the armour would prevent the cable from collecting in the drum provided by the manufacturer and could cause additional hazards.
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No, unless a rigorous risk assessment carried out as part of planning the job indicates that this is the safest and most effective means of accessing a particular location, taking into account the availability on site of other more suitable access equipment and the practicability of providing the same within the required timescales for the task to be carried out. This will need to be taken into account during the installation process.
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The users of a Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) would be expected to have undergone as a minimum: - Basic Health & Safety Awareness training (offered by many organisations)
- Basic MCWP Awareness, Regulations & Guidance
- Product Specific - Operational Controls
- Product Specific - Emergency Systems
- Pre-use / Daily Checks
Demonstration should be completed by a competent person (Demonstrator) who has sufficient knowledge and experience of the MCWP to be used. This demonstration is best completed on site with the specific make and model of MCWP to be used.
IPAF has a training course specific to demonstrators of MCWPs but does not issue licences for Users as their tasks with the MCWP are not deemed sufficient to warrant this level of certification.
Drawn up after consultation with the HSE.
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All MCWPs used out-of-doors or otherwise exposed to wind whilst in service shall be regarded as being affected by a minimum wind pressure in accordance with:
Minimum design wind data, in service
Freestanding or MCWP during erection/dismantling: 12,7m/s (Wind velocity), 100N/m2 (Wind pressure)
Tied MCWP: 15,5m/s (Wind velocity), 150N/m2 (Wind pressure)
Wind forces are assumed to act horizontally at the centre of the wind area of the exposed structural parts of the MCWP.
Competent Assessed Person (CAP) Programme
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The CAP (Competent Assessed Person) assessment programme is intended to provide up-to-date guidance for platform engineers on compliance with regulatory requirements and to offer documented evidence that individuals can be regarded as competent persons to plan, manage or carry out thorough examinations of powered access equipment within the context of current legislation. This is achieved through a rigorous assessment.
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The much coveted CAP (Competent Assessed Person) Card is proof of passing the CAP assessment and the engineer's ability to plan, manage or carry out thorough examinations of powered access equipment. CAP Cards are valid for five years.
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