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The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) announces the launch of its Global Safety Campaign for 2024, titled "CRUSHING CAN KILL!" The third Global Safety Campaign released during IPAF Head of Safety and Technical Brian Parker’s tenure aims to raise awareness and reduce entrapment and crushing incidents involving Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), which have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries over the past decade.

  • IPAF has assured its members and the wider industry that powered access operations remain a vital part of UK construction, facilities, processing and maintenance supply chains, and as such companies should continue to operate during the latest lockdown.

  • New country representatives for Spain and Switzerland have been appointed by IPAF: Javier Cerezo will be the federation’s new rep in Spain, while Christine Lell steps up from acting in an interim capacity to take on the role full time for Switzerland.

  • Information gathered in a worldwide project to report accidents and near-misses has informed a major update to IPAF’s comprehensive training course on how to load and unload MEWPs and other plant equipment safely from trucks or trailers.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

    We appreciate your support during this time and ask you to visit www.ipaf.org/covid19 regularly for updates from IPAF. Please contact us at info@ipaf.org or your nearest IPAF office for any inquiries about this.

  • 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.

  • 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 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.

  • 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 Asian countries.

  • 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.

  • 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.