T
he IPAF International Mast ClimbingWork Platform (MCWP) Committee
has been restructured to strengthen its promotion of the safe and
effective use of MCWPs around theworld.
The IPAF International MCWP Committee now comprises the UK&
IrelandMCWPWork Group (formerly the UK& IrelandMCWP Committee),
theMCWP TrainingWork Group, and other local and topic-specific work
groups to be formed.
Kevin O’Shea, Director of Safety and Training, HydroMobile (Canada),
is chair of the IPAF International MCWP Committee and Adrian Bolton,
ConstructionManager, Alimak Hek (UK), is vice-chair. Darren Brady,
Operations Director, Apollo Cradles, is chair of the IPAF UK& IrelandMCWP
Work Group and StevenMcEwan, Scot-Train, is vice-chair.
Taking up his role as chair of the IPAF UK& IrelandMCWPWork Group,
Darren Brady of Apollo Cradles said: “I am passionate about theMCWP
industry and I look forward to continuing the goodwork of this IPAF
committee. The committee is fortunate to have some very experienced
members in all aspects of the industry. TheMCWP industry has suffered in
recent years due to the economic downturn, but it is now returning to its
original position and still remains one of the safest, most economical ways
for men andmaterials towork at height.”
The UK& IrelandMCWPWork Group, together with the International
MCWP Committee, will prioritise these activities in the next months:
■
Encourage theMCWP industry to report accidents at the IPAF accident
databasewww.ipaf.org/accident
■
Develop and distribute case studies that highlight the safe and effective
use of MCWPs
■
Deliver presentations, e.g. at the IPAF Summit, that highlight synergies
and compatibility of MCWPs andMEWPs
■
Develop content for theMCWPmini-sitewww.ipaf.org/mcwp
■
Review theMCWP trainingmanual to simplify the language and
structure
Those interested in IPAF’sMCWP activities should contact Romina Vanzi,
IPAFMCWP department manager,
IPAFMCWPcommittee restructured
for renewedsafety focus
The new chair of the
IPAF UK & Ireland
MCWPWork Group,
Darren Brady, Operations
Director with Apollo
Cradles, says he is
passionate about the
MCWP industry and
promotingMCWPs as a
safe and productive way
to work at height.
Half-yearaccident
data released
T
herewere 23 fatalities worldwide involvingmobile
elevatingwork platforms (MEWPs), also known as aerial
work platforms (AWPs), in the first half of 2014, according
to findings from IPAF’s accident database.
Themain causes of these
fatalities were: overturn (9), fall
from height (8), entrapment (3),
electrocution (2), and technical/
mechanical (1). Note: One of the
entrapment fatalities involved
a person on the ground being
crushed between the base of the
MEWP and another structure.
Eleven of the fatalities involved
mobile booms (3b) and 10 involved
static booms (1b). In two cases, the
machine type is as yet unconfirmed.
Of these fatalities, 13 occurred
in the USA, two inGermany, and
one each in Australia, Austria,
Colombia, Malaysia, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain and the UK.
“More companies are
participating in the accident
reporting project, which is
generatingmore data in its
third year, but it is too early to
draw comparisons,” said Chris
Wraith, IPAF technical & safety
executive. “This is a unique
ground-breaking programme by
the powered access industry to
undertake ongoing analysis to
learn lessons and improve safety
worldwide. Preliminary findings
from the accident reporting
project have provided a rich source
for improving IPAF’s training
programmes and safety initiatives,
for example, with regards to
the safe loading and unloading
ofmachines, andmanaging
electrocution risks whenworking
near power lines.”
IPAF’s accident data is based on
information collected in a number
of ways: directly reported to the
IPAF accident database at www.
ipaf.org/accident, information
obtained by IPAF staff worldwide,
and information collated from
press releases and news reports.
The comprehensiveness of the data
cannot be guaranteed, but where
appropriate, action is taken to
verify the facts. The data is updated
should relevant information
become available.
“Accidents do occur, but we
should keep in perspective that
with over onemillion rental units
worldwide, MEWPs are one of
the safest ways to do temporary
work at height,” said IPAF CEO Tim
Whiteman. “And IPAF’s accident
reporting project is designed to
make a safe industry even safer.”
All manufacturers, rental
companies, contractors and users
are encouraged to report any
known fatal and serious accidents
involvingmobile elevatingwork
platforms (MEWPs) andmast
climbingwork platforms (MCWPs)
worldwide at the IPAF accident
database. The project is open to
IPAFmembers and non-members,
and includes an option for
anonymous reporting. Register and
report at
The main causes of MEWP fatalities in the first half of 2014
