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New guidance issued for safe isolation of platform controls on MEWPs
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
(Image: Richardjohnsonuk via Dreamstime.com)
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have issued new guidance on the safe methods of isolation of platform controls for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).
It follows an accident involving a MEWP which has highlighted that when at height, the method of isolating the controls on the platform can introduce a hazard to occupants.
The HSE is investigating the accident.
The emergency stop control on MEWP platforms has been used in the powered access industry for many years to achieve isolation of controls and/or power source when the MEWP has reached its place of work.
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This practice was first introduced on older machines not designed to current standards to reduce the risk of entrapment and inadvertent operation of controls.
As the standards have evolved and designs have changed, this practice may no longer be appropriate to reduce risk, as other methods are now used in control designs.
What does the guidance say?
For example, where the machine is equipped with an engine on/off control on the platform console, this should be used to switch the engine off during normal operation rather than the emergency stop control, unless the manufacturer indicates that it would be unsafe to do so.
Where machines are not equipped with a dedicated on/off control on the platform console, the MEWP operator should follow the manufacturers’ operating instructions as to how this should be achieved.
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the correct MEWP has been selected for the task, and that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been carried out and documented.
HSE has endorsed this jointly developed guidance and has encouraged IPAF to communicate it to MEWP users.
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