All Health & safety Articles

While the general public enjoy the spectacle of the world renowned Chelsea Flower Show, one of Access International's sharp eyed readers has alerted us to the health and safety concerns of the suspended pod, which is part of Diarmuid Gavin's Gold medal winning "Flying Garden."

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 Training Center, located in Wilmington, IL, recently joined the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and became an American Work Platform Training (AWPT) center.

IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) approved training centre BS Technology, based in Singapore, has become the first MoM (Ministry of Manpower) Accredited Training Provider for mobile elevating work platforms.

Lavendon Group’s health and safety manager Chris Wraith has joined the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) as its new technical officer. Mr Wraith replaces Gil Male who retired earlier this year.

An electrical company based in Hertfordshire, UK has been fined £120,000 after a man was left paralysed when he was knocked from a scissor lift.

Roger Verallo, managing director of UK company Euro Towers, was celebrating 20 years in business at the Executive Hire Show in February and was showing a new advanced guard rail system for its scaffold towers. He said the advanced guard rails were "tamper proof, they can't be removed while in use, which I think is unique - although I wouldn't swear to it."

The BoSS Cam-Lock Advance Guardrail from Youngman is designed to provides an alternative build method for BoSS Clima, Evolution and Ladderspan towers.

Although it is now known for its push-around lifts, Pop-Up Products has been manufacturing and supplying aluminium scaffold for more than 30 years. For the past 30 years the company has promoted its aluminium scaffolding under the Eiger brand. A new tower and podium are the first scaffolding to be branded as part of the Pop-Up range.

Advanced guardrails are becoming increasingly available on scaffold towers increasing safety for erectors and users. Maria Hadlow reports on some new developments

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has published a US edition of guidance aimed at avoiding trapping or crushing incidents when aerial work platforms (AWPs) are used in confined overhead spaces. The Best Practice Guidance for AWPs: Avoiding Trapping/Crushing Injuries to People in the Platform is available at the Publications section of www.ipaf.org and www.awpt.org

Lavendon Group plc has won the RoSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents) Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety for the second time in two years. Gold Awards are given by RoSPA to organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of health and safety at work.

Man Lift Manufacturing Company (MLE) has developed an electronic collision warning system for aerial lifts. The system "provides the ability to work closely around objects safely and protects against damage to critical components," according to MLE. The system also is programmable for alarm or stop when an intrusion moves into detection plane.

Honeywell (formerly Sperian) has launched a 'Making Safety Personal' series of videos on YouTube to showcase the role of safety management and encourage the use of personal fall protection and personal protection equipment. According to Honeywell, the videos feature real-life examples of how to manage safety in difficult conditions.

The aerial platform industry needs to take a more professional approach to the selection, design and use of outrigger pads, said Chris Wraith, QSHE manager (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment) at Lavendon Access Services, speaking at the IPAF Summit Conference in Amsterdam on 14 April.

Paul Adorian and Pierre Saubot were joint winners of the lifetime achievement award at the 2011 International Awards for Powered Access (IAPA) awards ceremony held in Amsterdam on 14 April before an audience of more than 450 people.

The World of Concrete show held January 17-21 in Las Vegas, NV, offered attendees a variety of options when it came to seeing and visiting mast climbing companies. On hand were Beta Max Hoists, Hydro Mobile, Fraco Products, EZ Scaffold and more. Lindsey Anderson reports from the show.

Kevin O'Shea of Atlanta-based Mastclimbers LLC has been elected chairman of the IPAF North American Regional Council.

Kevin Appleton, chief executive of the UK-based Lavendon Group, and Carlos Fernández Araoz, chief operating officer of GAM, one of the largest equipment rental companies in Spain, have earned their IPAF PAL (Powered Access Licence) Card.

IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) is presenting demonstrations highlighting the importance of assessing ground conditions before taking an access platform on to a worksite. The demonstrations are being carried out in cooperation with the NCCCO (Nationional Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators) highlighting the similarities between safety concerns for access and crane operators.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) have developed MCWP - Fundamentals of Safe Use, Ground Conditions and MCWP - Fundamentals of Safe Use, Tying to the Structure.