This document is intended to provide practical guidance on safety measures to minimize exposure to COVID-19 for anyone using MEWPs, MCWPs or Construction hoists for work activities.
All MEWPs/AWPs rely on the condition of the ground on which they stand for their stability. This applies equally to those which require the use of jacks or outriggers and those which operate free on wheels. It is essential that an assessment of ground conditions is made before travelling, using or setting up a MEWP on any surface.
The IPAF Operators’ Safety Guide for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (also known as Aerial Work Platforms) is a pocket-size publication that sets out the recommended working practices for the safe operation of MEWPs/AWPs over a wide range of applications, from initial checks, through transport and positioning on site, to carrying out the required tasks.
The Best Practice Guidance for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) was released in July 2010 by the UK-based Strategic Forum for Construction Plant Safety Group with the aim of avoiding trapping or crushing incidents when these machines are used in confined overhead spaces. IPAF has prepared a US edition of the above document, which was published in April 2011.
Raising the Standard is the IPAF bulletin. It is published twice a year and carries news of particular interest to IPAF members, such as developments in legislation and technical standards, and new member services.
The mounting or re-mounting of a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) onto a new or different vehicle chassis to the original chassis as sold by the MEWP manufacturer is a specialist job requiring both in-depth engineering knowledge and the technical specifications for the MEWP to be mounted.
Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are specifically designed to lift people to a position where they can work at height safely within the platform. MEWPs are not designed to transfer people from one level to another, or for people to exit the platform at height.
It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that all operators they direct and authorize to use aerial equipment are adequately trained, familiarized and made aware of operator responsibilities to comply with current health and safety requirements.
IPAF's eLearning provides a flexible and enhanced online learning experience for the mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) operator, MEWPs for Managers and MEWP Supervisor (North America only) training programs. It provides the same high-quality theory training as in the classroom and can be completed on a range of devices anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.
