FAQs

Yes, however, this may affect the length of the course and/or the candidates’ likelihood of passing.

Yes, any issued IPAF licence and qualifications can be shown within ePAL. All newly issued licences will automatically be linked to your IPAF profile (if you have provided your IPAF ID at the time of training). Existing licences can be linked by entering your licence number from your certificate within ePAL.

To update your name you will need to contact the IPAF training centre that trained you. To find the training centre contact details, open the ePAL app and go to the ‘Training’ section.

To update your photo you will need to contact the IPAF training centre that trained you. To find the training centre contact details, open the ePAL app and go to the ‘Training’ section.

Yes, you can download ePAL and log in to your account on more than one device, for example, both your work and personal phones.

The PAL Card is increasingly recognised worldwide. However, the employer and usually also the self-employed have a duty to know and abide by the legislation of the country they are planning to work in. IPAF may be able to assist with a summary of the legislation for countries in which we operate (please contact the IPAF head office in the UK). Ultimately it will be down to the site manager or equivalent at the differing work sites in each country to decide whether they are willing to accept the training you have received. IPAF's increasing worldwide reputation means that the PAL Card’s acceptance is growing daily.

The practice of using the emergency stop to isolate controls may no longer be appropriate on some MEWPs. MEWP operators should be trained and familiarised, and they should follow the MEWP manufacturer’s operating instructions as to how this should be achieved, and if it is recommended.

Where MEWPs are equipped with an “engine on/off” control at the platform control console, this should be used to switch the engine off during normal operation rather than the emergency stop control, unless the manufacturer indicates that it would be unsafe to do so.

Yes, provided that there are suitable facilities and equipment. Please discuss with your selected training centre.

Yes – if it is adjustable and used correctly as a restraint device (adjusted to be as short as possible), the lanyard will not be able to gain sufficient force/momentum to deploy the shock absorbing pack, thereby acting as a restraint lanyard.

No, IPAF still offers a physical printed PAL Card and certificate. Please speak to your IPAF training centre when booking your training.

You can link your IPAF issued licence and get a digital version if you choose to download ePAL in the future.

Working next to or over water must be assessed to identify whether the greatest risk of injury to the operator is from falling from the MEWP basket or drowning if the MEWP falls into the water.  The decision can then be made as to whether it is most appropriate to wear a harness to address the fall risk or whether a harness should not be worn due to the risk of drowning. Life jackets, not harnesses, should be worn where there is a risk of drowning.

Safety awareness relevant to MEWPs is an integral part of the IPAF course and therefore previous safety awareness is not necessary for the operator, demonstrator and instructor courses.

The employer should ensure that all Operators using the equipment are trained to operate the MCWP, with full knowledge of the controls of the equipment, safety systems and emergency procedures, risk assessment guidance and they are able to carry out pre-use/daily inspections and perform the emergency descent. The employer should also ensure that all Operators receive adequate machine-specific familiarisation, which should be conducted by a competent Demonstrator with the correct certifications, to ensure operators understand the specific machine controls and safety systems.

Demonstrators are persons, with full knowledge on the operating commands of the equipment, they are able to perform the emergency descent, carry out pre-use/daily and weekly inspections and ensuring that these take place.

In addition, they are trained in the demonstration of MCWP to others in a documented scheme, to ensure Operators understand the specific machine controls and safety systems.

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.

IPAF training programmes include MCWP Operator and MCWP Demonstrator, and its successful completion at an IPAF-approved training centre leads to a PAL Card, the highest international standard of quality training.

Yes, ePAL requires an internet connection to log in, however once logged in you can view your licences and experience offline. Sharing of licences and logging experience requires an internet connection.

As of March 2020, new Huawei phones no longer use Google services and cannot access the Google Play store.

At present, the Android ePAL app is only available through the Google Play store and is not available on Huawei’s AppGallery store.

Your digital licence will show all of the categories that you have been trained in. If you wish to get trained in additional categories, contact an IPAF training centre.

Your additional categories can be added to your existing licence, but these will be backdated to the original training date. Alternatively, ePAL allows multiple digital licences.

If operators want to add a category to their PAL Card, they need to successfully complete the IPAF approved Theory Test Paper. In addition to this, they must achieve the required standard when operating each of the machine categories that they wish to add on to their PAL Card.

If demonstrators want to add a category to their PAL Card, they must do the operator theory test and practical test on that category, then do the demonstrator course.

If you have lost your PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) you will need to order a replacement, there will be a fee for a replacement card. Please see the Lost PAL Card page.

Contact an IPAF training centre. Only operators or demonstrators who have been filling out their log books (hard copy or digital via the IPAF ePAL app) will be eligible for a renewal test. Those who have not been filling out their log books will not be eligible for a renewal test and will have to re-sit the full operator/demonstrator course again.

All renewals must be done before the expiry date. Otherwise, an operator will have to do a full operator course and a demonstrator must do the full operator and demonstrator courses.

From 1 July 2022 all MEWP operators applying for a renewal course will be required to show ten (10) entries as evidence of their experience recorded in their log book (either hard copy or digital via the IPAF ePAL app). Subsequently, in order for an operator to be able to take a MEWP Operator renewal course they will need to show:

• From 1 Jan 2023 evidence of a minimum of twenty (20) entries
• From 1 Jan 2024 evidence a minimum of thirty (30) entries
• From 1 Jan 2025 evidence of a minimum of forty (40) entries
• From 1 Jan 2026 onward: evidence of a minimum of sixty (60) entries over 5 years

For regions where the PAL Card operator licence has a two-year expiry period, operators must have evidence of 24 entries in order to qualify for a renewal course.

To use ePAL’s digital logbook to record your operating experience, first create the machine, you will need to do this for each new machine you use. Then create your manual work log entry and fill in any relevant details.

All existing PAL Card holders can use the new ePAL app, they simply have to create an IPAF ID account and claim their licence either by scanning their PAL Card on their phone using NFC (like a contactless payment tap) or manually typing in their licence number. As long as their profile details match their licence details, it will be linked and visible within ePAL.

See the Become a Member section.

Once created, you can only edit a machine or worklog.

IPAF Safety Guides (Operator Safety Guide or Site Safety Guide) are available to view in ePAL under the ‘Experience’ section. Make sure you have created your first machine then the ‘Safety Guides’ button will show.

For further help, please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

Your digital licence will show once it has been processed by IPAF and the training centre. Please wait for your notification (email or SMS) that it is ready.

For further help, please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

Please double check your junk folder for an email from IPAF or your messages. If you still do not see an email or SMS from IPAF, please raise a support ticket at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org

Open ePAL and click ‘Login’, then select ‘forgot my password’ and follow the steps provided. For further help, please raise a support ticket at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

If you require a physical PAL Card after completing your IPAF training and receiving your digital licence, you will need to contact the IPAF training centre that trained you to order a physical PAL Card - the training centre will charge a fee for this.

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

Yes, ePAL allows you to display multiple IPAF issued licences and qualifications.

Please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

Please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

The sharing of the PAL Card is done over your communication apps (email, iMessage, WhatsApp etc). Please double check to see if the message was sent. You will need data enabled to send the PAL Card and certificates.

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

It is possible for the candidate to re-take the course the following day. However, it is recommended that the candidate, employer and instructor discuss the reasons for failing prior to a re-take so that any appropriate corrective action can be taken. A failure of the theory test means that the applicant will have to re-sit the entire course on another day.

If the theory test has been passed but the practical test(s) failed, the applicant would be required to retake the practical test(s) within 90 days of passing the theory test. Failure to retake the practical test(s) within 90 days of passing the theory test would mean the applicant would need to re-sit and pass the theory test prior to taking the practical test(s).

Where MEWPs are not equipped with a dedicated “on/off” control switch at the platform control console, the MEWP operator should follow the manufacturers’ operating instructions as to how this should be achieved.

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.

New equipment in the European Union (EU) must be delivered with a Declaration of Conformity. This provides an owner/user with evidence that the specific machine complies with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR) of the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). A Declaration of Conformity is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. In the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons, and this includes MEWPs, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) require a MEWP to have a thorough examination at least every six months. The Declaration of Conformity can be considered to be equivalent to a Certificate of Thorough Examination valid for the first six months following its date of issue.

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.

The latest version of ePAL for Android (available from Google Play) supports the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Samsung Internet
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

If you need help with the ePAL app, please raise a support ticket through ePAL under the ‘More’ section, at www.ipaf.org/support or email support@ipaf-pal.org.

There are four basic types of underbridge unit:

1. Gantry type: IPAF category = Special

2. Static boom type: IPAF category =  Static Boom (1b) 
Type 1: Travelling is only allowed with the MEWP in its transport position. Group B: MEWPs where the vertical projection of the centre of area of the platform at the maximum chassis inclination specified by the manufacturer may be outside the tipping lines. 

3. Mobile boom type: IPAF category = Mobile Boom (3b)
Type 3: Travelling with raised work platform is controlled from a point of control at the work platform. Group B: MEWPs where the vertical projection of the centre of area of the platform at the maximum chassis inclination specified by the manufacturer may be outside the tipping lines.

4. Boom type with travelling with raised work platform controlled from a point of control at the chassis (Type 2): IPAF category = Special.

ePAL requires a smartphone running Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android operating system (that can access Google Play).

It is available on the latest two major Apple iOS versions. The minimum operating system for Android, is version 6 (Marshmallow).

IPAF provides the following quick reference guides for suppliers and users.

Issues covered include:
• Machine weights and permissible loads
• Taxation and regulations affecting vehicle mounted MEWPs used in the highway
• Schedule 3, Engineering Plant
• Extracts from Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 1998, The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 s49-(1) - Vehicles fitted with a moveable platform.

For the UK see this information sheet from the UK Government

On some MEWPs, activating the emergency stop switch at the platform controls can affect the warnings given to the occupants of the platform.  

Please see the following article for more information: https://www.ipaf.org/en/news/update-use-emergency-stop-platform-control-mewps

The much-coveted CAP (Competent Assessed Person) Card is proof of passing the CAP assessment and the engineer's ability to plan, manage or carry out thorough examinations of powered access equipment. CAP Cards are valid for five years.

IPAF’s PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) is the proof provided to all persons who successfully complete training and testing on an IPAF machine-based course.

ePAL is the name of IPAF's new mobile phone app through which the PAL Card, and many other operator-focused features, can be accessed. View more information at www.ipaf.org/ePAL

In order to deliver IPAF training courses, you need to be employed by an IPAF training centre or become a registered IPAF independent instructor member.

To become an IPAF instructor, you must meet the following criteria:

• 36 months’ MEWP operating experience 
• IPAF Operator Licence held for 6 months minimum
• IPAF Demonstrator Licence held for 3 months minimum
• IPAF MEWPs for Managers course successfully completed
• Evidence of Acceptable Instructional Techniques training (3 days minimum)
• Successful completion of an approved Harness Instructor course
• Evidence of IPAF MEWP-specific Instructor training (4 days minimum) 
• Evidence of HSE required standard for First Aid at Work training level
• Successful completion of IPAF Instructor Examination
• Mentoring

To become an independent instructor member, please e-mail the IPAF Training Operations Coordinator.

IPAF is registered with the UK Financial Services Authority as an industrial and provident society (No. 30998R) and therefore must have two levels of membership:

• Full members who have full voting rights and full access to all member services, and
• Associate members (associations, company associates, press, individual associates and small users) who do not have full voting rights, but have full access to all member services. 

Practical tests not taking place immediately following the theory test must be undertaken within the subsequent four-week period.

After the four-week period, in order to renew or upgrade a licence, an operator must successfully complete the IPAF Renewal/Upgrade theory course and test, which is shorter than the theory part of the main operator course.

If the practical part of the course has been rescheduled due to poor weather etc., then practical tests not taking place immediately following the theory test must be undertaken within the subsequent 90 day period.

The log book is an operator’s record of machine usage/experience. The printed log book has been replaced with the digital log book through the ePAL app.

An expired operator or demonstrator PAL Card cannot be renewed and will require full re-training and testing.

ePAL displays the training centre that provided your training for that licence or qualification. If you complete additional training categories and these are added to an existing licence, it will show the most recent training centre.

To link an existing licence you will need to provide your licence number. This will be printed on your PAL Card or certificate.

If you cannot find your IPAF licence number you can contact us directly at support@ipaf-pal.org.

Responsibility for ensuring a PAL Card is current remains with either the operator or the employer (this will vary depending on their contractual relationship). The relevant training centres will however often endeavour to remind the operator or employer. Users of the ePAL app will be notified when their licence is expiring.

It varies from job to job - check. 
Invariably the party paying for the MEWP will be responsible - so check the ground conditions. 
Assuming otherwise could be expensive if not accounted for in the quote.

PAL Cards remain the property of International Powered Access Federation Ltd.

IPAF suggests that the operator should have the issued card on his/her person at all times when working with MEWPs and the employer should keep the certificate.

The European Communities Act, passed by Parliament in 1972, accepted the supremacy of EU law. A principal which has also been endorsed by UK courts.

Therefore, whilst the Work at Height Regulations 2005 – Schedule 2 states a need for ‘the top guard-rail or other similar means of protection shall be at least 950 millimetres’ and ‘any intermediate guard-rail or similar means of protection shall be positioned so that any gap between it and other means of protection does not exceed 470 millimetres’;

A machine complying with BS EN 280:2013+A1:2015 (which states: ’as a minimum, consist of guard-rails at least 1,1 m high, toe-guards at least 0,15 m high and intermediate guard-rails not further than 0,55m from either guard-rails or toe-guards’ can be legally sold in the UK, as it complies with the requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

Some MEWPs are purchased with the anemometer at the point of order as anemometers are not usually fitted as standard by the manufacturer. In addition, an anemometer can be expensive, can be damaged, and requires regular calibration.

This is usually because the manufacturer has installed alternative measures to prevent trapping in the scissor pack in line with BS EN280: Mobile elevating work platforms – Design calculations – Stability criteria – Construction – Safety – Examinations and tests.

Source: BS EN 280:2001+A2:2009 – 5.4.4: The downward movement shall be automatically stopped by a safety device in a position, where between the outer ends of the scissors the vertical distance is not less than 50 mm, so that crushing and shearing of fingers cannot occur. Further downward movement shall only be possible after a suitable time delay, giving the operator the opportunity to see, whether persons beside the MEWP could be injured, and a further command of the operator.

To create an IPAF ID account you need to use and validate your email address or mobile number. These details are required on your training assessment booklet, so your licence is linked to your IPAF ID. You will get notified when your licence is ready.