Tim Whiteman has stepped down from the position of Managing Director and CEO of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) after 15 years in the position. Former IPAF President Andy Studdert will act as interim CEO to provide continuity as Tim Whiteman hands over and while the search for a new CEO is conducted.
After several months of development and fine-tuning, IPAF has announced it is now ready for “controlled trials” of its PAL+ advanced operator assessment in a virtual reality (VR) environment using MEWP simulators at some members’ training centres.
IPAF has helped to bolster operator safety in Finland, after member firm Simeri OY became accredited to deliver PAL Card training for scissor and boom-type lifts.
IPAF is launching a major update of its globally recognised MEWPs for Managers course for those planning, supervising and managing work at height using powered access, and for the first time the course is also available as standalone eLearning.
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has paid tribute to Alastair Robertson – owner of Universal Equipment in Glenn Ellyn, Chicago, US, an active and long-serving member of the organisation and a “force for good practice and safety” in the worldwide powered access industry.
The aim of IPAF’s Innovate event 2018 was to address key industry issues with the goal to develop potential solutions to improve the safe and effective use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), formerly known as AWPs. To enable this, at the event, key industry players worked together in small groups to deliver achievable solutions which could positively impact the issue at hand. This paper provides a summary of each topic.
IPAF has been shortlisted for two European Association Awards, being nominated in the Best Provision of Industry Information and Intelligence, and Best Association Conference categories. Winners are announced in March.
Resources and recording of the webinar that took place on 16 September 2020, on how IPAF's worldwide accident reporting project is reducing accidents through intelligence.
IPAF has relaunched its global accident reporting portal as part of a major drive to gather the best quality data from around the world, demonstrating what analysis can teach us about improving safety in powered access with a webinar on the latest trends.
A series of virtual workshops to assist and support those who regularly carry out third-party inspections of MEWPs and MCWPs will be hosted by IPAF to meet demand, which is high across the Middle East and South Asia.
IPAF joins industry calls for the Chancellor to postpone his plan to end tax relief on red diesel for construction in the UK, to take into account the ongoing impact of Covid-19.
IPAF Members and partners are invited to register now to join the free online Access, Lift & Handlers (ALH) Conference, which will be hosted on Friday 23 October, and featuring presentations from Peter Douglas, CEO, and Norty Turner, IPAF President.
The use of simulators as part of the assessment process of advanced operator training courses has been approved by the IPAF Council. Training centres delivering IPAF’s PAL+ advanced operator course can now assess candidates in a VR environment.
The IPAF Summit & IAPAs scheduled to be held in London, UK, on 18 March 2021, is to go ahead as a digital event, with delegates joining online from around the work, to allow maximum certainty for those planning to attend during the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of Powered Access Licence (PAL) Cards issued by IPAF to MEWP and MCWP operators worldwide has now surpassed 2 million, with 800,000 valid cards currently in use on worksites around the globe.
IPAF Members are being offered financial assistance to help them during the ongoing pandemic. IPAF is providing a 25% discount on the 2020 membership fee against the cost of 2021 fees and is bringing forward its annual rebate for Training Centres.
Amanda Beckett has been announced as IPAF’s new Head of Finance. She joins from Nationwide Platforms, part of Loxam Group, officially taking up post on 9 November.
The positive state of MEWP rental and underlying economic trends in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and China should shape strong recoveries after the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest powered access rental market reports from IPAF.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College will host a virtual meeting to showcase the new Lift Truck and Powered Access Apprenticeship to IPAF members
An agreement has been signed between IPAF and member firm Trackunit to develop and deliver a new operator-focused app called ePAL, which will be free to download and will feature a digital IPAF PAL Card, operator log book, and vital safety guides.
This notice is to formally advise members that the next Annual General Meeting of the International Powered Access Federation will take place at 16:30 (UK) on 23 April 2020. The meeting is conducted in English and for this reason the documents are available only in English.
The aim of IPAF’s Innovate event 2019 was to address key industry issues in order to develop potential solutions that would improve the safe and effective use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), formerly known as AWPs. At the event, industry stakeholders worked together in small groups to develop achievable solutions which could positively impact the issue at hand. This paper provides a summary of each topic that IPAF offers to the industry to support improved safety.
Build UK has written to the Government to request recognition for construction, trades and supply chain workers, including those in powered access, to secure permission to travel and maintain access to active construction sites during the coronavirus outbreak.
IPAF welcomes the introduction of a new International Standard regarding MEWP operator’s controls. ISO 21455:2020 has been published and culminates a decade of work from IPAF and its members, and the UK HSE, to standardise the actuation, displacement, location and method of operation of MEWP controls.
A new presidential team has been confirmed by IPAF, with Norty Turner of United Rentals officially invested during the federation’s 2020 AGM, held for the first time
ever by video conference on 23 April owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Three new board members, seconded during 2019, were also confirmed at the AGM.
MEWP overturn incidents often result in serious injuries or fatalities. Instability leading to overturn is commonly among the top four causes of lost time incidents (LTIs) annually, according to global data.
