IPAF Elevation Switzerland 2024, held in Gränichen, brought together industry experts and professionals for a day of informative sessions, workshops and discussions. Followed by the IPAF Switzerland Awards ceremony, the event covered key developments within IPAF and the industry, training updates, and regulatory changes.
The International Awards for Powered Access 2024 (IAPAs) held on the evening of March 14 at the Scandic Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, showcased excellence, safety, sustainability, and innovation within the powered access sector. Organised jointly by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and Access International Magazine, the event gathered over 420 attendees from across the industry to recognise outstanding achievements across various categories.
Powered access equipment rental companies on the island of Ireland will be required to achieve an internationally-recognised quality standard as a condition of membership of the international organisation for operators of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), in a drive to improve safety and quality.
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.
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.
Industry stakeholders are invited to join the next free IPAF webinar on 10 December at 12pm GMT, offering a review of a tumultuous year in powered access and outlining some exciting initiatives for the year ahead.
An agreement has been signed between IPAF and member firm Trackunit to develop and deliver a new operator-focused app called ePAL, which will be free to download and will feature a digital IPAF PAL Card, operator log book, and vital safety guides.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College will host a virtual meeting to showcase the new Lift Truck and Powered Access Apprenticeship to IPAF members
The positive state of MEWP rental and underlying economic trends in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and China should shape strong recoveries after the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest powered access rental market reports from IPAF.
Amanda Beckett has been announced as IPAF’s new Head of Finance. She joins from Nationwide Platforms, part of Loxam Group, officially taking up post on 9 November.
IPAF Members are being offered financial assistance to help them during the ongoing pandemic. IPAF is providing a 25% discount on the 2020 membership fee against the cost of 2021 fees and is bringing forward its annual rebate for Training Centres.
The number of Powered Access Licence (PAL) Cards issued by IPAF to MEWP and MCWP operators worldwide has now surpassed 2 million, with 800,000 valid cards currently in use on worksites around the globe.
The IPAF Summit & IAPAs scheduled to be held in London, UK, on 18 March 2021, is to go ahead as a digital event, with delegates joining online from around the work, to allow maximum certainty for those planning to attend during the coronavirus pandemic.
IPAF Members and partners are invited to register now to join the free online Access, Lift & Handlers (ALH) Conference, which will be hosted on Friday 23 October, and featuring presentations from Peter Douglas, CEO, and Norty Turner, IPAF President.
The use of simulators as part of the assessment process of advanced operator training courses has been approved by the IPAF Council. Training centres delivering IPAF’s PAL+ advanced operator course can now assess candidates in a VR environment.
A series of virtual workshops to assist and support those who regularly carry out third-party inspections of MEWPs and MCWPs will be hosted by IPAF to meet demand, which is high across the Middle East and South Asia.
IPAF has relaunched its global accident reporting portal as part of a major drive to gather the best quality data from around the world, demonstrating what analysis can teach us about improving safety in powered access with a webinar on the latest trends.
What does the analysis of accident data from around the world teach us about safety in powered access? That is the important question under consideration in an upcoming instalment of an ongoing series of free webinars delivered by IPAF and guest experts.
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.
In response to new safety requirements due to COVID-19 and following IPAF’s guidance to training centres, Nationwide platforms has successfully completed an online instructor-led MEWPs for Managers course for construction contractor Skanska.
CRUSHING CAN KILL - STAY ALERT, STAY ALIVE
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) are often used to carry out work in areas where there are risks of crushing or entrapment to the platform occupants. Any activity involving MEWPs must be planned and properly managed. Failure to do so can result in injury or death of the platform occupants.
