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.

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College will host a virtual meeting to showcase the new Lift Truck and Powered Access Apprenticeship to IPAF members

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between IPAF and the Turkish Rental, Manufacturer and Distributor Association of MEWPs, PLATFORMDER.

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.

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.

IPAF has helped to introduce ISO-certified MEWP operator training to Sweden, with member company Lipac Liftar now offering PAL Card training for scissor and boom-type equipment.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has modified its eLearning operator theory module to include facial recognition technology currently deployed as a security measure on its MEWPs for Managers eLearning course. By utilising the camera on the candidate’s device or computer, this ensures only the trainee under assessment is able to undergo the eLearning.

New guidance has been issued by the UK HSE, following pressure from IPAF to clarify what should happen to machines on work sites that require an update to their safety certificates while the country is still in partial lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak.

The IPAF Summit & IAPAs 2020, scheduled to be held in London, UK, will now be held over until next year, owing to ongoing uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

IPAF is supporting from The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK charity dedicated exclusively to the work at height sector, urging workers to ‘Be Safe, Don’t Fall, Stay Alive!’, as lockdown eases and UK construction activity begins to increase.

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.

The first in a series of potentially life-saving safety briefings has been launched by IPAF. IPAF’s ‘Toolbox Talks’ are a series of safety presentations ideal for use in breakrooms and worksites to get key messages across at the start of a shift.

IPAF Elevation Switzerland was held at the end of January, at St Jakob Park, Basel, the home of leading Swiss football team FC Basel This was the second edition of the event and attracted 115 attendees, with around 80 participants staying on for dinner.

The date on which the updated ANSI A92 MEWP safety standards will come into effect has been postponed again, to allow required actions to deal with appeals against them, with the effective date now June 2020. Companies should continue to plan compliance.

A new representative to assist IPAF’s growing membership in South Korea has been announced, Roberto Kim having been appointed and taking up post with immediate effect. He will report to Raymond Wat, IPAF’s South East Asia Regional Manager.