IPAF Webinar: High Voltage! Safety Campaign 2023

Electrocutions involving MEWPs are one of the main causes of fatalities in the powered access industry. This webinar underpins IPAF’s international safety campaign 2023 - High Voltage! which identifies hazards and risks associated with working near power lines and explains how to avoid them and work safely.

Hosted by IPAF’s Brian Parker and Mike Ashton, you’ll also hear from three guest speakers including two members of the international working group (Glen Cook and Peter Wellspring) who were involved in the development of IPAF’s Technical Guidance – The Safe Use of MEWPs in the Vicinity of Power Lines.

Glen Cook will share insights into specific hazards associated with overhead power lines and what action to take should an incident occur. He’ll also explain what is meant by ‘touch and step potential’ as referred to in the above-mentioned IPAF Technical Guidance.

Peter Wellspring will explain how vehicle-mounted platforms are used to aid the construction and maintenance of transmission and distribution power lines that supply Australia’s electrical infrastructure and will examine a case study – a fatality involving a MEWP – looking at how the incident could have been prevented.

Jim Waldron will provide details about the new Machinery Regulations 2023/1230 which replace the 2006/42/EC Machinery Directive. He will look at how the new regulations may affect manufacturers, rental companies and users/hirers of powered access equipment when working near overhead power lines.

This webinar will be broadcast via Zoom and will be in English, featuring simultaneous translation in Italian, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Korean  and Chinese. Simultaneous translation is only available when watching live, using the free Zoom desktop or mobile app. It will not be available if you watch using your web browser. *Please note simultaneous translation is provided subject to demand. IPAF reserves the right to cancel this feature if minimum numbers are not met.

A recording will be available on IPAF's YouTube channel after the webinar, for anyone unable to watch live.

Speakers:

	Brian Parker Head of Safety & Technical, IPAF	Brian Parker has worked in the powered access industry for over 25 years, formerly working for IPAF Member AFI-Uplift. Previous to that he served in the UK Force.
	Mike Ashton International Safety & Technical Advisor, IPAF	Mike has worked in the powered access industry for over 25 years and as such, has a strong safety and technical background in the MEWP sector bringing a thorough understanding of the specific standards relating to safe use and design of MEWPs. His experience includes roles as a Service Engineer and as an IPAF Senior Instructor, based in the UK.  Since moving to Australia in 2011, Mike has worked as the Resources Manager for the EWPA (Elevating Work Platform Association, Australia) and, in April 2022, joined IPAF in his current position.
	Jim Waldron, Director for Product Safety, Skyjack UK	In addition to his role with Skyjack, Jim is also a member of various standards committees and industry working groups including the Equipment Manufacturing Federation of Europe and the UK Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group. He is also the Chairman of the IPAF Manufacturers’ Technical Committee. He brings over 15 years of experience from the aerospace sector as an Engineering Manager, responsible for various aspects of airworthiness and safety. He has a master’s degree in Systems Engineering, is a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and holds Chartered Status of the UK Engineering Council.
	Peter Wellspring, Technical and Training Manager, Bronto Skylift (Australia & New Zealand)	Peter’s career in the powered access industry spans more than three decades. Starting as an operator of truck-mounted units in 1993 in the power, telecoms, industrial and film/TV sectors, he progressed to a safety and training role in 2009. He later helped start a hire company that became a preferred supplier in the power line construction sector and was appointed as their Safety, Training & Technical Manager. In 2017 he entered a training and technical support business where he focused on truck mount training and assisting hire companies to upskill their operators. This included new equipment commissioning for Bronto Skyklift Finland and technical support in Australia and New Zealand. With the growing demand, he took up his current position in 2021.
	Glen Cook (Cookie), Community Safety Specialist, Energy Queensland	Cookie won the Australian Safety Professional of the Year Award in 2020 and devotes his time to travelling in Australia educating users/hirers of machines and equipment about the dangers of working in the vicinity of power lines.

Register now View the previous webinars here

This webinar is sponsored by: