A campaign emphasising the importance of planning ahead for safety when conducting temporary work at height using MEWPs has been launched by IPAF at Intermat 2018 in Paris, France. ‘Safety at height begins before you’ve even left the ground.’

The second International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) Regional Meeting of the year is booking up fast, as attendees confirm their places for an evening of exceptional speakers and industry networking at the Mercure Hotel in Haydock, Merseyside.

IPAF has published an important document, the IPAF Three-Year Strategic Plan. We created it to help all of us understand the major objectives for the organisation over the next three years, and to measure and demonstrate our progress towards those goals.

Adopting advanced technology, embracing change, utilising big data and relying on a skilled, engaged and energised workforce to create a successful, sustainable business model, was the key message at this year’s Europlatform conference in Belfast, UK.

Haulotte, the international MEWP manufacturer, has reached a historic agreement that sees it become one of the first sustaining members of IPAF, which was formally signed at the Europlatform 2018 conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 11 October.

Booking is now open for the annual IPAF Summit, which in 2019 will be held for the first time in the Middle East, and at the same time nominations for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) have opened via www.iapa-summit.info

IPAF’s globally recognised PAL Card operator training has launched in a new language and new territory – with member firm Riwal now delivering the operator course in Russian to training candidates in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

Tim Whiteman, CEO of IPAF, joined a webinar to discuss the capabilities and potential of VR and simulators in assisting training for safe operations while working at height, hosted by Engineering News Record (ENR). ‘Upping the Game: The Evolution of Virtual Reality Technology’ in the Construction Industry’ is now available to view online.

IPAF’s North American Regional Council presents a new networking event addressing some of the most pressing challenges in MEWP (AWP) and MCWP operations today, to be held at the Houston Area Safety Council, Pasadena, Texas, on October 16-17.

IPAF has made significant progress formulating a new MEWP service technician framework, with a new apprenticeship standard accepted for consultation, the first IPAF-recognised MEWP service technicians training now available and an exclusive offer for IPAF members to undertake advanced engineering courses with TVH.

Two routes to becoming a qualified MEWP service technician are outlined in IPAF’s new Service Engineer Roadmap – one is aimed at those without an engineering background, the other is a formal apprenticeship leading to IPAF CAP certification.

Representatives from the HSE, CITB and Build UK were among stand-out presenters in a seminar programme that attracted more than 200 delegates across a day of meetings, networking, dining and entertainment at the first ever IPAF Elevation.