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Dec 03, 2023

Updated MEWP safety guidance following changes in use

The Construction Industry Plant Safety Group (CIPSG) has published free updated safety guidance for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). The 22-page Good Practice Guidance for Reducing

The Construction Industry Plant Safety Group (CIPSG) has published free updated safety guidance for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).

The 22-page Good Practice Guidance for Reducing Trapping/Crushing Injuries to People in MEWPs focuses on practical ways to reduce risk.

Entrapment injuries are usually serious and often fatal.

The guidance provides advice on planning, risk assessment, MEWP selection, operator training, familiarisation and rescue.

As the use of MEWPs has expanded CIPSG hopes the guidance raises risk awareness among operators, supervisors and rescuers.

Chair of the Construction Industry Plant Safety Group for MEWPs, Kevin Minton, said the guidance would be a “vital reference tool” and can be used in briefings and toolbox talks.

He added: “Presented in easily digestible sections it is aimed at those using and supervising MEWPs, and those responsible for rescuing entrapped people, as well as anyone involved in planning and risk assessing work with MEWPs, specifying equipment, managing the work or organising training.”

In the four years up to 2020 there were 73 deaths from entrapment incidents globally. This is according to the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) reporting portal from 15 countries.

However, CIPSG added that MEWPs are “widely acknowledged” to be one of the “safest and most efficient” means of enabling temporary working at height.

IPAF head of safety and technical Brian Parker said the updated guidance was “much needed” as the reporting portal showed entrapment was “consistently” one of the top five causes of serious injuries and deaths when using MEWPs.

He said: “Much work and cross-industry consultation has gone into this document to ensure it is thorough, comprehensive, clear and concise.

“The powered access industry has advanced significantly over the past five to 10 years, with technological advancements driving secondary guarding devices, and machine capabilities and complexities.

“Meanwhile, the breadth of industry-end applications has developed considerably over that period.

“We feel this new guidance document adequately encompasses all of these changes and provides an important point of reference to aid in minimising entrapment risks for all those planning, executing and supervising work at height using MEWPs.”

The guidance has been compiled by CIPSG, which is chaired by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) and administered and supported by IPAF.