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.

For the UK see this information sheet from the UK Government

The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) applies to vans above 1.205 tonne unladen weight and to all diesel engined lorries over 3.5 tonne. IPAF has clarified that truck mounted platforms continue to be exempted from the LEZ. Van mounts are not exempted. The LEZ does not affect self-propelled booms. More information on the LEZ

In July 2014, the Greater London Authority (GLA) released a Supplementary Planning Guidance 'The Control of Dust and Emissions from Construction and Demolition'. This document contains information outlining the new engine emission standards for NRMM in London under chapter 7, ‘Cleaner Construction Machinery for London: A Low Emission Zone for Non-Road Mobile Machinery’.

The Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) regulations have been active since 1st September 2015 and in order to comply with the GLA’s NRMM Low Emission Zone (LEZ) policy there is a requirement for developments/sites to keep an inventory of all NRMM used on site in the designated zones. The two designated zones are Greater London, and the Central Activity Zone (CAZ) and Canary Wharf; these can be viewed on the map of the NRMM Low Emissions Zone: http://nrmm.london/. The central London areas have a tighter emissions standard applied to them.

https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/implementing-london-plan/supplementary-planning-guidance/control-dust-and

IPAF Members can contact for more guidance on the LEZ, CAZ and NRMM.

Some MEWPs are purchased with the anemometer at the point of order as anemometers are not usually fitted as standard by the manufacturer. In addition, an anemometer can be expensive, can be damaged, and requires regular calibration.

New equipment in the European Union (EU) must be delivered with a Declaration of Conformity. This provides an owner/user with evidence that the specific machine complies with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR) of the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). A Declaration of Conformity is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. In the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons, and this includes MEWPs, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) require a MEWP to have a thorough examination at least every six months. The Declaration of Conformity can be considered to be equivalent to a Certificate of Thorough Examination valid for the first six months following its date of issue.

This is usually because the manufacturer has installed alternative measures to prevent trapping in the scissor pack in line with BS EN280: Mobile elevating work platforms – Design calculations – Stability criteria – Construction – Safety – Examinations and tests.

Source: BS EN 280:2001+A2:2009 – 5.4.4: The downward movement shall be automatically stopped by a safety device in a position, where between the outer ends of the scissors the vertical distance is not less than 50 mm, so that crushing and shearing of fingers cannot occur. Further downward movement shall only be possible after a suitable time delay, giving the operator the opportunity to see, whether persons beside the MEWP could be injured, and a further command of the operator.

The use of netting will be a decision based upon a site, job and machine specific risk assessment.

The attaching of netting or other materials to the handrails of a MEWP to prevent tools and materials falling from height will increase the wind resistance of the raised platform. Thus the manufacturer's recommended maximum wind speed will have to be downrated to compensate for any increased resistance of the platform when raised.

The amount it will be reduced will depend on the material fitted. Any reduction in manufacturer's recommended wind speed rating will have to be made known to potential operators of the MEWP. The weight of the material fastened to the handrails will have to be taken into account when considering the safe working load limitations of the MEWP.

The correct positioning of the platform at height in relationship to the task to be performed will be influential in preventing the possibility of tools and materials falling from the platform.

The tethering of tools and materials should be also considered as a possible option to prevent objects falling from the raised platform.

Where netting is fitted to the handrails, it may increase the possible trip hazard to occupants of the platform and also increase the risk of “snagging” from internal or external objects.

The UK Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) states at Regulation 4(1): "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adopted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided."

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states at Regulation 4(2): "As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."

IPAF acknowledges that there is no legal duty to PAT test individual components of a MEWP. However, there is a duty on an employer to keep all work equipment properly maintained so as to be safe. This includes the electrical aspects of a MEWP.

This duty can be achieved by regular inspections, the frequency of which will be on a risk-based approach. It is currently common industry practice that this is accomplished by the pre-delivery, pre-use and interim maintenance inspections and thorough examination activities carried out by the owner and user of the MEWP. Where evidence suggests that it is necessary, the competent person conducting a thorough examination may also require an appropriate measure of electrical testing to be undertaken, although this is not mandatory.

The European Communities Act, passed by Parliament in 1972, accepted the supremacy of EU law. A principal which has also been endorsed by UK courts.

Therefore, whilst the Work at Height Regulations 2005 – Schedule 2 states a need for ‘the top guard-rail or other similar means of protection shall be at least 950 millimetres’ and ‘any intermediate guard-rail or similar means of protection shall be positioned so that any gap between it and other means of protection does not exceed 470 millimetres’;

A machine complying with BS EN 280:2013+A1:2015 (which states: ’as a minimum, consist of guard-rails at least 1,1 m high, toe-guards at least 0,15 m high and intermediate guard-rails not further than 0,55m from either guard-rails or toe-guards’ can be legally sold in the UK, as it complies with the requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

No – the armour would prevent the cable from collecting in the drum provided by the manufacturer and could cause additional hazards.

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.

The employer should ensure that all Operators using the equipment are trained to operate the MCWP, with full knowledge of the controls of the equipment, safety systems and emergency procedures, risk assessment guidance and they are able to carry out pre-use/daily inspections and perform the emergency descent. The employer should also ensure that all Operators receive adequate machine-specific familiarisation, which should be conducted by a competent Demonstrator with the correct certifications, to ensure operators understand the specific machine controls and safety systems.

Demonstrators are persons, with full knowledge on the operating commands of the equipment, they are able to perform the emergency descent, carry out pre-use/daily and weekly inspections and ensuring that these take place.

In addition, they are trained in the demonstration of MCWP to others in a documented scheme, to ensure Operators understand the specific machine controls and safety systems.

The responsibility for determining the training needs of persons in respect of safety, and for making the necessary arrangements for training, rests with the individual employer. In the case of self-employed persons, the responsibility rests with themselves.

IPAF training programmes include MCWP Operator and MCWP Demonstrator, and its successful completion at an IPAF-approved training centre leads to a PAL Card, the highest international standard of quality training.

It is not normally necessary for personnel working from a vertical lift to wear fall protection equipment, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

During installation, alteration and dismantling

The work platform of an MCWP is provided with guard-rails and toe boards to protect the occupants from falling. Consequently the use of harnesses is not required during use of MCWPs unless any part of the guard-rail system has been removed by a competent person (e.g. to enhance access to the façade of a building), in which case a risk assessment should be carried out to ascertain the need for, and specification of, fall arrest/work restraint equipment. The risk of falling during installation, alteration and dismantling should be addressed in the installation, alteration and dismantling method statement.

In the event of a risk assessment requiring an anchor point for a harness, the manufacturer should be consulted.

Before attaching fall protection equipment to the work platform, the user organisation‑appointed person should ascertain both the location and suitability of anchor points.

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.

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.

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.