MEWP Safety Campaign Launch

Visitors to the Intermat Paris expo this year have seen the launch of the latest safety campaign for roofers working with Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). The campaign is the work of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), who are promoting the importance of planning ahead for safety when using MEWPs for short-term work at height.

The CEO of the IPAF, Tim Whiteman, said ‘Falls from height are still the main cause of deaths in the workplace. MEWPs are specifically designed to safely conduct temporary work at height and have been recognised as such by safety bodies across the globe. Working safely at height using MEWPs is underpinned by good planning, trained and properly supervised operators using the correct machine for the job. IPAF’s latest campaign is all about reminding people of the importance of proper planning – safety at height begins before you’ve even left the ground.’

Four key elements in accidents when working at height on MEWPs

The IPAF have identified four key causes of accidents on sites with MEWPs, where operatives have fallen from the platforms. The IPAF believe that these could often be prevented with simple, yet proper planning, risk assessments and by knowing where responsibility lies:

• Risky operator behaviour
• Exiting the platform at height
• Setting up near other machinery
• Mechanical failure

The safety campaign offers support in the form of distribution of safety posters designed to encourage safety talks and briefings, an online spreader pad calculator and raised awareness for the duration of the campaign, which also looks at other solutions to encourage machinery inspections, operator training, enhanced supervision and adequate segregation from other equipment.

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