Falls from the platform are almost always fatal

Data from IPAF’s Accident Reporting project shows falls from the platform are one of the leading causes of fatal incidents involving powered access equipment. Of the latest 117 incidents reported, falls from the platform resulted in 120 being people injured and 93 killed. Proper planning and ensuring a safe system of work are essential parts in the process to avoid falls from the platform.

Occupants working from the platform typically fall after:

1. Overreaching;
2. standing on guardrails in the platform;
3. being ejected from the platform due to: the MEWP being struck by another piece of equipment, other vehicles, falling objects or materials, poor ground conditions or failure to operate the MEWP smoothly (common causes of the catapult effect);
4. exiting or re-entering the platform at height.

An underlying common factor in cases of serious injury and death was occupants incorrectly using or not wearing the correct fall-restraint equipment.

See also: DON’T FALL FOR IT!, H1: Fall Protection in MEWPs, Use Personal Fall Protection Equipment (PFPE) Toolbox Talk, Ground conditions Toolbox Talk, IPAF operator training courses