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  • Report

    IPAF report gives new insight into MEWP accidents worldwide

    Accidents while working at height using MEWPs are proportionally more likely to occur when working in public areas or alongside roads than on controlled work sites such as construction sites or commercial premises, according to IPAF’s latest safety report. The report is now available to view or download free of charge via www.ipaf.org/accident

  • News

    Elevation: ‘Sustainable supply chains equal joined-up thinking’

    Around 100 attendees enjoyed the conference line-up, networking and gala dinner at the third IPAF Elevation event, where the unifying themes were sustainability, smart supply chains, and engaging with contractors to work safely and effectively at height.

  • 5847: Is it legal to work alone and is it safe?

    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

  • Workplace

    IPAF MEWP Selection Checklist

    This checklist assists in the selection of the correct MEWP and covers restrictions, working height, outreach, the weight of materials etc. It should be completed by a qualified person and where any doubts remain advice should be sought from the mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) supplier.

    Added 3 Mar 2020
    Last updated 3 Mar 2020

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  • Campaign

    Inspections

    Is your equipment legal and safe to use? Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are one of the safest ways to perform temporary work at height. Keep your equipment safe through good maintenance regimes ranging from pre-use checks, to regular thorough examinations as required by law, to major inspections.

    Added 26 Apr 2018
    Last updated 26 Apr 2018

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  • Toolbox Talk

    Falls From Height: Don’t Fall For It! Toolbox Talk

    Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), are a safe and effective means of access for undertaking temporary work at height tasks. It is important to remember a MEWP is only as safe as the person who is operating it. If this equipment is used incorrectly, unsafely or by inexperienced people, accidents and fatalities are more likely to happen.

    This Toolbox Talk provides some safety measures which can reduce the risk of falls from the platform.

    Added 30 Sep 2022
    Last updated

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  • Stickers/Decals

    Auxiliary Lowering Sticker/Decal

    This symbol is designed to help operators locate the auxiliary lowering controls in the event of an emergency following a machine malfunction. 

    Added 1 Jan 2019
    Last updated

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  • News

    IPAF supports OSHA Falls From Height safety stand-down

    IPAF supports OSHA’s annual safety stand-down as part of its mission to promote the safe and effective use of powered access equipment – IPAF has developed poster artwork and toolbox talk guidance that are available for free download from the www.IPAF.org website as part of IPAF’s Andy Access campaign promoting the safe use of MEWPs and MCWPs.

  • Toolbox Talk

    Asbestos Contamination in Powered Access Equipment

    This Toolbox Talk provides guidance for powered access rental companies on how to deal with suspected asbestos contaminated equipment when it is off-hired.

    Added 31 Jul 2023
    Last updated

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  • Technical Guidance

    The Safe Use of MEWPs in The Vicinity of Power Lines

    International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) collates incident reports received from around the world, from companies, individuals and IPAF members who share their experiences to allow others to work safer. By analyzing the data, it is evident incidents involving electrocutions and electric shocks have notably increased since 2015, the standout statistic is that reported incidents of electrocution are nearly always fatal.

    Added 7 Mar 2023
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  • News

    IPAF successfully launches Elevacao Portugal event

    The first edition of Elevation Portugal, has successfully been hosted by the IPAF at the Centro de Formação Profissional da Indústria da Construção Civil e Obras Públicas do Sul (CENFIC), Lisbon , on 15 October 2019.

  • News

    IPAF outlines consultation on virtual reality and platform simulators

    A major consultation is to be launched as the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) sets out to establish the possibilities for powered access training and safety guidance afforded by new technology such as virtual reality and platform simulators, involving the more than 1,000 accredited IPAF instructors around the world.

  • News

    IPAF hosts webinar on the future of safe learning

    IPAF is hosting a free webinar on the future of safe learning. The webinar looks at how COVID-19 has impacted training, how IPAF is responding and how employers and powered access operators can utilise different technologies to continue to learn safely.

  • Technical Guidance

    MEWP-specific safe-use plan

    What is a MEWP-specific safe-use plan and why do I need to use one?

    Added 4 Mar 2020
    Last updated 4 Mar 2020

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  • 5857: Is it necessary for a ground-based person (designated to help lower the MEWP in an emergency) to hold an IPAF PAL Card?

    It is preferable for any nominated MEWP ground rescue person to have undergone some form of formal training relevant to the task. However, all nominated MEWP ground rescue persons should, as a minimum, have been familiarised with the MEWP being used and the rescue procedures in place, in order that they are competent to lower the MEWP platform using the ground/emergency controls in the work situations to which they are exposed.

    Further information on rescue procedures can be found in the Best Practice Guidance for MEWPs on Avoiding Trapping/Crushing Injuries.

  • Publication

    MEWP/AWP Operators’ Safety Guide

    The IPAF Operators’ Safety Guide for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (also known as Aerial Work Platforms) is a pocket-size publication that sets out the recommended working practices for the safe operation of MEWPs/AWPs over a wide range of applications, from initial checks, through transport and positioning on site, to carrying out the required tasks.

    Added 1 Jan 2018
    Last updated 1 Jan 2018

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  • News

    Update to IPAF's global auxiliary controls decal

    IPAF has confirmed that it has updated one of its most widely used global safety stickers for use on MEWPs – launching an important redesign of the decal that is applied to machines to indicate where the auxiliary lowering controls are located.

  • News

    IPAF welcomes a new International Standard on MEWP Operator’s Controls

    IPAF welcomes the introduction of a new International Standard regarding MEWP operator’s controls. ISO 21455:2020 has been published and culminates a decade of work from IPAF and its members, and the UK HSE, to standardize the actuation, displacement, location and method of operation of MEWP controls.

  • News

    Site assessment training to select the correct MEWP for the job

    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.

  • Andy Access

    Andy Access: Accident Reporting

    Don’t forget to report all accidents and near misses involving powered access into the IPAF Accident Reporting Portal or report anonymously through IPAF’s ePAL app.

    Added 15 Sep 2023
    Last updated

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  • Toolbox Talk

    MEWP Rescue Plan Toolbox Talk

    Why is a rescue plan important? Planning is critical to a prompt rescue of someone who has become trapped and timing can make a very significant difference to the injuries sustained – in some cases, the difference between life and death.

    Added 31 Mar 2020
    Last updated

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  • Page

    Become a Mentor - Women in Powered Access

    As part of its Women in Powered Access initiative, IPAF has created a mentoring scheme for women in the powered access Industry who are looking for extra support and guidance to sustain and promote their career within. 

  • Page

    IPAF FOR CONTRACTORS

    IPAF can support contractors by providing a hub for safety, good practice, efficiency and technical know-how. Here you will find links to relevant documents, guidance, toolbox talks, and information to support contractors to work safely when using powered access.

  • Presentations & Webinars

    IPAF HSE Open Meeting: MCWP Safety Alert

    IPAF and the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) held an open meeting on 27 May 2022 to help members and the industry to understand the latest Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) product safety alert issued earlier this month by the UK HSE.

    Added 30 May 2022
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  • News

    IPAF’s MEWP controls research goes on the road

    A special Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) control test rig has been travelling the world since its debut at the APEX 2017 event in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in May, and most recently has been on three major UK construction sites to gather data to help the global standards body make recommendations as to the best way to standardise MEWP controls worldwide.