Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 28th November 2024 Issue no. 1140
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Safe methods of isolation of platform controls on mobile elevating work platforms
The Health & Safety Executive is investigating an incident involving a mobile elevating work platform and has found that when at height, the method of isolating the controls on the MEWP can introduce a hazard to the occupants of the platform.
The investigation is ongoing but in the meantime, the HSE has been working with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) to develop the following guidance on the safe methods of isolation of platform controls for MEWPs.
The emergency stop control on the MEWP platform has been used in the powered access industry for a number of years to achieve isolation of controls and/or power source when the MEWP has reached its place of work.
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 the risk as other methods are now used in control designs.
The operator of a MEWP may be required to isolate the controls and/or power source using platform controls.
Where the machine is equipped with an 'engine on/off' control at the platform control 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 at the platform control 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 endorses this jointly developed guidance and has encouraged IPAF to communicate it to MEWP users.
HSE's website has more information and advice on working safely with MEWPs at:
24th October 2024