IPAF brings accident data safety stations to Vertikal Days 2021

A safety trail demonstrating the most common types of accidents involving MEWPs, as identified by the latest analysis of data gathered in IPAF’s incident reporting project, will be the theme of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) stand at Vertikal Days 2021 at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, UK, 22-23 September.

Brian Parker, IPAF’s Head of Safety & Technical, says: “These accidents are almost always catastrophic. The latest report, published earlier this year, shows that once again the most common causes of accidents involving MEWPs are falls from the platform, electrocutions, overturns/tipovers, entrapments/crushing, MEWPs being struck by an object or vehicle, or struck by falling objects or materials.

“With our key safety stations, we aim to talk our visitors through vital site assessments, planning tasks and operational observations to guard against common risks and to help reduce these types of accidents where possible. As always, our experts will be on hand to discuss all aspects of operational safety and training requirements for safe work at height using MEWPs. We look forward to seeing you in person at this popular event.”

IPAF will also be debuting a new type of membership at the event, with the launch of its Safety Professional member category, aimed at those in health & safety or similar supervisory roles both within powered access and wider end-use sectors.

The new membership is aimed at individuals within larger organisations, including existing IPAF Member companies, and is a cost-effective way to get involved with the Federation and its activities, bringing benefits including free participation in exclusive safety professional events with leading speakers from the powered access industry, access to a private LinkedIn group for safety professionals to share knowledge and best practice, access to the members’ area of the IPAF website and the IPAF accident reporting portal members’ dashboard, plus a discount subscription to a leading UK H&S publication.   

As in previous years, visitors to the IPAF stand will also be able to choose from a comprehensive range of safety and technical guidance, Those who visit the safety stands to learn about common hazards and how to avoid them can claim a free gift, and will also qualify for 20% off when pre-ordering IPAF Global Powered Access Rental Market Report 2021, exclusively compiled by global business intelligence experts Ducker.

Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF, comments: “After almost two years without face-to-face events and in-person gatherings, I’m sure like me most folk across our very sociable industry are looking forward eagerly to getting together again at Vertikal Days.

“While the pandemic raged, IPAF has been busy, creating our new ePAL mobile app for operators of powered access, developing and updating our industry-leading training offer, safety and technical guidance, developing up-to-the-minute publications including the Global Safety Report and Powered Access Rental Market reports and creating new leaflets, stickers, Andy Access safety posters and Toolbox Talks, all of which are aimed at helping to boost the safety of work at height operations.

“Vertikal Days offers the perfect platform for us all to reconnect as an industry after what has been a very difficult time for everyone; do please come along to see us and find out about what we have been up to these past 18 months and more. We look forward to seeing you and catching up.”

Find IPAF on Stand 619 (next to the Catering Pavilion) at Vertikal Days, 22-23 September 2021, to see the “common causes” safety stations, discuss the new ePAL mobile app, find out about the new Safety Professional membership category, and to meet and talk with our experts. For more on IPAF safety campaigns, legislation and standards, see www.ipaf.org/safe; or visit www.ipaf.org/events for details about all upcoming IPAF events appearances and webinars.