FAQs

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.

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.

Yes, ePAL will be available to both new & existing PAL Card holders in the UK and Ireland when it is launched. View more information at www.ipaf.org/ePAL

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.

No.

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.

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.

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 UK HSE guidance paper - Working Alone in Safety: Controlling the risks of solitary work: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf

See IPAF's technical guidance H1 on harnesses.

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.

The licence security check has failed for one or more reasons. Please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

The licence number you entered is not valid, double-check you entered it correctly or if using NFC  (like a contactless payment tap) on a PAL Card, try entering it manually.

If you are still experiencing issues, please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

The licence is already linked to an IPAF ID, please double-check you haven’t provided a different IPAF ID to your training centre or signed up again using a new email address or mobile number.

If you are still experiencing issues, please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

Due to mobile phone manufacturer's restrictions, ePAL cannot behave like a Smart PAL Card and unlock an RFID access control enabled MEWP.

If you require a PAL Card for machine access control, this can be requested at the time of training. If you require a physical PAL Card after completing your IPAF training and receiving your digital licence, you will need to contact the training centre that trained you to order a physical PAL Card. The training centre will charge a fee for a physical PAL Card.

To find the training centre contact details, open the ePAL app and go to the ‘Training’ section.

If the ePAL app is not working, please try to log out and log in again, or remove and reinstall the app.

If you are still having problems please raise a support ticket at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

All IPAF licences can be verified at www.ipaf.org/checkpal

Check you have activated your account, an email or SMS will have been sent. If not, please raise a support ticket at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org

ePAL will notify you of any licences that are due to expire. The training centre that originally trained you will be listed in the ePAL app under 'Training' or use the IPAF website to find a training centre near you.

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

It is not necessary that passengers are trained to operate the Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP), but at least two trained and familiarised operators should be on the MCWP at any one time. It is the employer’s responsibility of determining the training needs of all personal on and around the platform, however, passengers should be knowledgeable on the risks associated with their job and with working at height.

The British Standard BS 7981, the Code of practice for the installation, maintenance, thorough examination and safe use of MCWPs, states the following:

“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.”

“Training should be provided on the operation, including pre-use checks.”

“All trained operators working from an MCWP should as a minimum be familiarized by a demonstrator, to enable emergency lowering and rescue. At least two operators should be present on the platform to enable emergency lowering and rescue. Only operators familiarized in specific aspects of the MCWP should be allowed to operate it.”

See the Member Services and Benefits section.