Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), are a safe and effective means of access for undertaking temporary work at height tasks. It is important to remember a MEWP is only as safe as the person who is operating it. If this equipment is used incorrectly, unsafely or by inexperienced people, accidents and fatalities are more likely to happen.
This Toolbox Talk provides some safety measures which can reduce the risk of falls from the platform.
Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are a safe way of providing temporary access at height for tree care work and vegetation control. Overgrown or overhanging trees and vegetation require management and MEWPs provide an ideal solution for this. This task is necessary in both urban and rural locations – often in public areas close to pedestrians and passing traffic. Pruning or removing branches can be a hazardous task, especially if trees are in the proximity of power lines or communications cables or the platform is poorly positioned in relation to the work area.
It is essential that MEWPs are secured and managed correctly to ensure that only competent and nominated personnel operate the equipment in accordance with the employer’s safe system of work. All MEWPs should be stored in a safe and secure manner when left unattended.
This guidance is intended to assist companies to demonstrate the independence, impartiality and integrity of the 2nd party inspection/examination bodies that they employ.
The loading and unloading of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) is potentially a high risk activity, as findings from the IPAF accident reporting database (www.ipaf.org/accident) show. This document outlines the importance of planning and managing the delivery and collection operations.
