MEWP / Aerial Lift Safety

Overview

MEWP / Aerial Lift Safety should be managed through a planned system of work: identify the task-specific hazards, eliminate exposure where practical, use engineered or collective controls before relying on PPE, verify critical safeguards before starting, and stop the task when controls are missing or conditions change. This guide applies those principles specifically to planning and operating mobile elevating work platforms and aerial lifts.

Main Hazards

• • Tip-over from poor ground conditions, slope or overloading
• • Crushing between platform and overhead structures
• • Falls to a lower level
• • Dropped objects striking people below
• • Unsafe access or unstable working position

Essential Controls

1. 1Complete pre-use inspection, ground assessment and function checks before operation.
2. 2Keep within rated load and operating envelope and control overhead, traffic and entrapment hazards.
3. 3Eliminate work at height where the task can be completed from a safe level.
4. 4Prioritize guardrails, platforms and other collective fall-prevention measures.
5. 5Inspect access and fall-protection equipment before use and remove defective equipment from service.
6. 6Barricade the area below and maintain a practical rescue plan.

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