4. Not for profit organisation
Current number of members – worldwide - 1055
Number of countries where IPAF have members – 55
Number of Country Councils 9
Number of training centres worldwide – 573
Average number of operators trained per month – 11,700
Number of operators trained to date in 2015 – 130,657
Number operators with a valid card 620,000
Representatives on major design, safe use and training standards
Provide support, campaign material, guidance, information
Research and development projects
PROMOTE THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF
MEWPs WORLDWIDE
IPAF Facts www.ipaf.org
5. Planning for emergency rescue
Legal requirement to plan for emergency and rescue when anyone
is working at height
The speed and ease of rescue can make a very significant
difference if any injuries sustained.
Safe rescue capability is designed and built in to all MEWPs:
Auxiliary controls in the platform
Additional set of controls at ground level
Approx. 40,000 MEWPs in UK
7. Stages of emergency rescue planning
Identify what could reasonably go wrong and how
it can effect those at height……… Risk Assessment
Implement suitable measures to eliminate or
reduce the possibility of anything going
wrong….Prevention measures
Suitable means of lowering persons safely to the
ground if prevention measures fail … A Plan
Making sure everyone involved knows what to do
….Communicate and practice
8. Risk assessment
Familiarity of control functions
Machine failure or malfunction
External influence – materials - traffic
Operator incapacitated
No-one on ground to assist
No-one familiar with the ground controls
No key in the ground controls
Unsafe work practices
9. How well do you know:
Regulations and
standards affecting
MEWP usage?
Safe operating
methods and hazard
awareness? (PAL+)
Safety beyond
training?
10. Familiarity of control functions
Machine failure or malfunction
External influence – materials - traffic
Operator incapacitated
No-one on ground to assist
No-one familiar with the ground controls
No key in the ground controls
Unsafe work practices
Prevention measures
Nominated
ground
person
Safe
systems of
work and
supervision
Familiarisation
Rehearse
rescue
Pre-use checks
Site
supervision
Competent
Operators
Key at ground
control station
Organised
site
11. A Plan
Use Platform controls - Normal
Auxiliary
Use ground controls - Normal
Auxiliary
Contact service engineer
If serious or imminent risk consider basket to
basket rescue
13. Recent court case – April 2013
11 April 2009 Westfield Shopping Centre Stratford- West London
A 39 year old company employee was trapped between the guardrail
of a scissor lift and some overhead ducting.
A colleague was unable to release him and bring him down because
he was unaware of how to use the emergency controls.
Although XXXX XXXX cannot be held directly accountable for the
death, the company should have ensured staff knew how to operate
the equipment they were using.
Fined £30,000 plus £29,000 in costs
14. HSE Statement
Familiarisation was
inadequate
Industry guidance dictates
that familiarisation is
essential for anyone using
MEWPs
Should be routinely
assessed because controls
vary between different
makes and models
http://www.ipaf.org/en/publications/technical-guidance-notes/
15. Communicate and practice
Drills must include
practising the use of the
ground controls and
emergency controls for
each machine in use.
Emergency control systems differ in design
and position
MEWP operators, supervisors and others
involved must be briefed on and practice
their emergency procedures
16. Rope evacuation WARNING!
HSE is aware of several serious incidents and at least one fatal
incident involving the use of rope evacuation systems
These incidents predominantly occurred during training for
rope escape
17. Summary
The need for emergency rescue is a rare event
When needed it must be done quickly and safely
Risk Assess and implement control measures
Develop a plan
Communicate and practice the plan
No rescue method should introduce in-proportionate to
the risk
Having a mobile phone to call the emergency services is
NOT an suitable or acceptable rescue plan.
Thank you for your listening
For more information about IPAF or any issues regarding the safe
use of MEWPs please visit the IPAF website at www.ipaf.org