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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013
ALH
MAST AND HOIST SUPPLEMENT
IPAF AND MCWPs
IPAF and the MCWP industry:
Achievements and the future
thorough examination, frequent inspection and
safe use. It includes a full description of the
tasks and responsibilities of all the individuals
and companies involved in MCWP installation
and use.
Committee
IPAF created an MCWP committee, which at the
beginning was intended to focus on the UK and
Ireland. This committee created a work group to
develop a training program aimed at training all
individuals involved in MCWP installation.
Interest grew in setting up an international
forum for MCWPs, as the market was booming
and most manufacturers were based outside
the UK. IPAF responded to industry needs and
created an international MCWP committee,
which attracted manufacturers to join.
In 2006, the IPAF MCWP training program was
translated into Spanish and also adapted for the
American market.
It was a productive time as the committee
delivered on its core projects. These cover the
publication of the IPAF Guidelines for the Safe
Use of MCWPs: U.S. Edition, the statement on
fall protection MCWPs, as well as standard
templates for common use on the subjects of
MCWP handover certificate, load chart and
thorough examination. All these documents
can be downloaded at
In 2011, the U.S. MCWP market and
local safety officers started requiring specific
certified training for operators of MCWPs. That
same year, IPAF added the operator course
to its MCWP training program. It also created
an additional category called “trainer,” for the
designated person able to train operators. The
MCWP operator course is currently being run in
the U.S. and is being tested in the UK. It will be
available in Spanish in 2014.
This year, IPAF created a MCWP department
with the aim of boosting its activities.
In the U.S., IPAF supports its MCWP members
by providing assistance and advice on the
safe and effect use of MCWPs and transport
platforms. The National Institute for Safety
and Health (NIOSH) is currently conducting live
testing on MCWPs. Project scientist Bryan Wimer
and his team are conducting laboratory load
and stability testing on MCWPs. NIOSH is also
looking at a collaboration with Motorola and
IPAF that involves assessment the potential for
using QR tags on MCWPs. When read via smart
phones, the tags will ink to safety information
and inspection and use videos for the operator to
review before using the machines.
IPAF represents it members on the ANSI
standards committees A92.9 Mast Climbing
Work Platforms and A92.10 Transport Platforms.
It contributed to the revised standard A92.9
which was updated and released in 2011.
The activities of the international MCWP
committee will be revived in 2014. A meeting
will be held in March during ConExpo/CON-AGG,
where IPAF will invite MCWP members to display
their equipment in the IPAF Safety Zone.
■
M
ast climbing work platform (MCWP)
manufacturers and rental companies
have been part of the industry and the
International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)
since the beginning.
IPAF’s history of supporting its MCWP
members goes back to the ‘90s. At that time,
there were no harmonized control standards in
areas such as erection, dismantling, service,
induction, use, etc. The first accidents were
reported in the UK. IPAF became the natural
forum for MCWP manufacturers, rental
companies and users to discuss issues of
concern and to become actively involved in the
development of standards related to MCWP use,
maintenance and training.
One of the key results following the lobbying
work of this first forum was the British standard
7981:2002 Code of practice for the installation,
maintenance, thorough examination and
safe use of MCWPs. This standard defines
the essential points in the life of an MCWP,
from maintenance and installation through to
Romina Vanzi
, IPAF area
manager and MCWP
department manager, covers
IPAF’s role in the MCWP
industry and market.
When IPAF MCWP training is
completed, the student will receive a
PAL Card, as pictured here.
Mast climbers at work on a jobsite in St. Louis
where the entire work crew were PAL Card holders.
