News

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) will support OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, beginning with a free webinar on how to operate Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MCWPs), formerly known as Aerial Work Platforms, safely.

An International Safety Committee has been created by IPAF, to globalise standards development and assist in effective implementation and promoting awareness about industry safe practice. IPAF is now inviting representatives to join the new committee.

The latest IPAF Global Safety Report analyses the main causes of serious injuries and fatalities occurring when using powered access machines in the period 2016-2020, and highlights the need to gather more near-miss data from across the industry worldwide.

There will be no Europlatform conference this year, owing to ongoing uncertainty around international travel and large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest addition to the Andy Access poster and Toolbox Talk series focuses on Nominated Ground Rescue Persons and the importance of their being familiar with
the MEWP’s auxiliary/emergency lowering systems and the rescue plan that is in place.

The family of Roger Wickens, this year’s posthumous recipient of the Lifetime Achievement International Award for Powered Access, has been presented with a commemorative glass trophy following the virtual IAPAs ceremony earlier this year.

Join a free online webinar to share the key findings of the latest Global MEWP Safety Report, compiled from analysis of data collected via IPAF’s Accident Reporting Portal.

The launch of a new mobile app for operators of MEWPs and MCWPs aims to bring training certification into the digital era and reduce the environmental impact involved in issuing the IPAF PAL Card and certificate to newly qualified operators worldwide.

IPAF has made its worldwide accident reporting portal available in multiple languages and added a new dashboard to give members access to the latest available data to assist in setting their company’s safety strategy.

Member firms are being encouraged to embrace the options for in-work training to support and certify MEWP technicians via the Roadmap that was developed by IPAF, as the first wave of candidates complete their level 2 and level 3 NVQs.

IPAF will work with members to tackle industry concerns about the planned end to tax relief on red diesel for construction plant machinery in the UK by 2022.

The latest issue of Powered Access magazine has been published and is available to read online now.

Members of the powered access industry are invited to join a free online seminar to explore issues around the challenges and opportunities of environmental sustainability, including information about how stakeholders can lead positive changes in their sector.

Newly released IPAF Toolbox Talks, designed to share specific safety messages on work sites, are now available. They are two short presentations with supporting Andy Access posters covering the use and inspection of PFPE when using MEWPs.

The first wave of apprentices on a new route to certifying specialist MEWP technicians have been celebrated by representatives of IPAF as they embarked on their studies at North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College.

IPAF’s Competent Assessed Person (CAP) programme has been developed and adapted to meet demand from operatives in the MCWP and construction hoist sector.

A new course aimed at demonstrating how to perform a site assessment and select the correct mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) to carry out the job has been launched by IPAF, which can be completed at a Training Centre or remotely via eLearning.

IPAF experienced a strong end to 2020, boosting revenue by diversifying income streams and continuing careful cost control to help restore cash reserves and leave the federation in a relatively strong position after trading was significantly impacted during the early months of the Coronavirus pandemic, according to its latest Annual Report.

Sustainability, digitisation and adopting exciting new technologies are all key to building back better from the coronavirus pandemic, according to presenters at this year’s IPAF Summit, hosted for the first time as a virtual event owing to the global health crisis.

More than 900 industry professionals from no fewer than 66 different countries around the world joined the first-ever digital edition of the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs), with prize-winners announced during the IPAF Summit, originally planned for London in April 2020, but postponed and then moved online owing to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.