Pledge to report accidents

IPAF members are being called on sign a pledge to report all known accidents in their companies involving mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), also known as aerial work platforms (AWPs).

Since the start of the year, IPAF has been urging all manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users to report any known fatal and serious accidents involving MEWPs and AWPs worldwide at the IPAF Accident Database.

The Federation initiated its accident reporting database with the aim of putting a figure on the total number of fatal accidents worldwide involving MEWPs and AWPs, and using the findings to further inform its training and safety programmes.

Information entered into the database is kept strictly confidential and will be used solely for the purposes of analysis and improving safety.

Preliminary results indicate that there were seven fatal accidents worldwide involving MEWPs and AWPs in the first quarter of 2012.

Of these accidents, three involved vehicle mounts (1b), two involved scissor lifts (3a), one involved a boom (3b) and one was unknown. Three accidents were caused by overturn (two involving 3a and one unknown), two were caused by electrocution (one 1b and one 3b) and two were technical related (two 1b). Six of the accidents occurred in the USA while the seventh occurred in Australia.

"Those who attended the IPAF Summit in Rome earlier this year will remember the strong case for accident reporting put forward by Peter Douglas of Nationwide Platforms, who argued that accident reporting should be mandatory for IPAF members," said IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman. "IPAF is not currently mandating the reporting of accidents involving MEWPs and AWPs, but it is calling on its members to make a voluntary commitment by signing the pledge to report accidents. The pledge reflects the high standards of IPAF members in health and safety, and their determination to keep the powered access industry safe."

Companies who wish to sign the pledge can do so at the Vertikal Days exhibition at Haydock Park, UK from 27 to 28 June 2012. Stop by the IPAF Safety Zone at stand 108 to sign and receive a badge.