Why Due Diligence Matters When Hiring Powered Access Equipment

Are you a procurement manager or site manager responsible for hiring powered access equipment?
What due diligence do you or your team complete before hiring MEWPs?

In this article, Damien O'Connor, IPAF's Irish Country Manager, highlights why due diligence should be a priority for every organisation hiring powered access equipment. 

Could you be exposing your company and your workers to unnecessary risk by not asking the right questions to meet your legal duties under the various safety, health and welfare acts when hiring externally owned equipment?

Hiring MEWPs, boom lifts, scissors, van-mounted platforms, tracked units, truck mounts, hoists or mast climbers is routine across construction, facilities, utilities and renewable sectors. But without proper checks, you may unknowingly bring unsafe or non-compliant equipment onto your site or facility.

Ask yourself or your project teams these questions, and whether you could answer them if something went wrong:

Certification & Legal Compliance

• Have the MEWP or Hoist/MCWP components been thoroughly examined by a competent person, and does the documentation include all the required components to make it a valid GA1/LOLER certificate?
• Do you know whether that person holds the appropriate qualifications or manufacturer specific training to carry out a GA1/LOLER?
• Is the rental company properly insured to supply and deliver work-at-height equipment- particularly MEWPs operating above the standard 10–14m range where many basic insurance policies stop?

Service & Maintenance Records

• Are the rental company's service histories recorded and up to date? If an incident occurs, these records become critical.
• Have manufacturer safety bulletins been received, reviewed and implemented?
• Could your supplier demonstrate a robust maintenance regime aligned with OEM recommendations if an investigation was to take place?

Competent Delivery Teams

• Are the rental company's delivery drivers trained and competent to safely load, unload and hand over MEWPs?
• Have you or your team ever verified their training certificates?
• Do they arrive with correct PPE, including certified harnesses, where required?

Supplier Competence

• Do your current suppliers operate to any recognised industry standards.
• Do they follow documented safety systems and robust maintenance processes?
• Are they aligned with international best practices, including those in IPAF Rental+?

Did you know?

IPAF audits powered access companies in Ireland and Northern Ireland to help raise standards and provide assurance to you, the customer, that a hirer/rental company meets defined health and safety, quality and environmental standards before they can join IPAF.

Why Choose IPAF Rental+ certified companies?

IPAF Rental+ suppliers are audited annually to verify:

✔ Safe, compliant equipment
✔ Competent technicians and delivery teams
✔ Verified handovers
✔ Accessible service history and inspection records
✔ Alignment with both regional and international best practice

The audits also provide a mechanism for continual business improvement and are aligned with the Common Assessment Standard, relevant regulations, and established industry good practice. They complement existing management systems and support organisations working towards international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.

Due diligence isn’t optional, it’s part of your company’s duty to protect your employees, your subcontractors, your projects and your business.

Choosing an IPAF Rental+ supplier reduces procurement risk, strengthens due diligence, and gives confidence that the powered access equipment arriving on your site is safe, compliant, and supported by trained professionals.

It costs you nothing as a customer, but by asking for IPAF Rental+, you help raise rental standards across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

If you want support improving your MEWP procurement process or reducing your company’s risk, ask your supplier whether they hold IPAF Rental+. If they don’t, encourage them to reach out and join the growing number of rental companies already certified and leading the way in raising standards across our industry. 

If you as a customer or user would like guidance on how IPAF Rental+ can support your organisation, business or industry, please visit www.ipaf.org/rental