The annual Innovate powered access industry workshop, presentation and award event has been canceled in 2020 owing to uncertainty around the global coronavirus outbreak by host IPAF. The event had been planned for May 5-6 in Chicago, IL.

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.

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.

The first in a series of potentially life-saving safety briefings has been launched by IPAF. IPAF’s ‘Toolbox Talks’ are a series of safety presentations ideal for use in breakrooms and worksites to get key messages across at the start of a shift.

IPAF Elevation Switzerland was held at the end of January, at St Jakob Park, Basel, the home of leading Swiss football team FC Basel This was the second edition of the event and attracted 115 attendees, with around 80 participants staying on for dinner.

The date on which the updated ANSI A92 MEWP safety standards will come into effect has been postponed again, to allow required actions to deal with appeals against them, with the effective date now June 2020. Companies should continue to plan compliance.

A new representative to assist IPAF’s growing membership in South Korea has been announced, Roberto Kim having been appointed and taking up post with immediate effect. He will report to Raymond Wat, IPAF’s South East Asia Regional Manager.

A comprehensive new industry “roadmap” to becoming a qualified MEWP technician or engineer has been finalised by IPAF, with a selection of recognised training courses now listed and open for enrolment on two distinct pathways to industry certification.

Regulators in Dubai have stated that all operators must hold a valid IPAF PAL Card to work using MEWPs and MCWPs. The Dubai Municipality’s technical guidance states that all operators must hold a PAL card, supervisors must be trained in managing MEWP or MCWP operations, and rental companies must train all staff accordingly.

Brian Parker has been announced as the new Head of Safety & Technical for the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). He IPAF joins from AFI-Uplift Ltd and takes up post on 2 October, reporting to Peter Douglas, CEO and Managing Director.