Accidents while using mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) – like scissor or boom lifts – are more likely when working in public areas or alongside roads than on controlled work sites such as construction sites, report International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) as part of their latest detailed safety analysis.
Accidents on construction sites account for the joint highest average number per year, but as MEWPs are used much more widely in construction than in other sectors.
The new report also identifies recurring underlying causes of incidents involving MEWPs as falls from the platform, electrocutions, entrapments, tip-overs, and being struck by another vehicle.
“We’ve worked hard along with a dedicated group of IPAF members to analyze, interpret and present the data in a new way, to assist the wider industry to stay safe,” explains Richard Whiting, general market manager – the United Kingdom and Ireland for IPAF. “One key change is that, rather than comparing a full year’s accident data to previous years, the most recent three full years of available data have been combined to produce an aggregate and average number of incidents – combining data into a larger overall set allows trends over time to be more readily identified.”
The industries which saw more frequent deaths were forestry and construction, with maintenance and electrical service sectors third and fourth. Construction had an annual average of 19 reported fatalities, but the total number of days worked using MEWPs in construction is far higher than the other industries listed.
All companies and individuals are encouraged to report incidents involving MEWPs, mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs), and other types of lifting equipment via www.ipaf.org/accident.
IPAF’s Global MEWP Safety Report 2016-2018 presents findings from the federation’s analysis of accident statistics gathered through its worldwide accident reporting project, which has incident reporting from 25 countries around the globe. The report is now available via www.ipaf.org/accident.