Glamorgan, UK - The UK Health & Safety Executive have issued guidance notes on safe practice with cherrypickers and other mobile work platforms.
More people die from falls at work than from any other cause but the use of a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) has helped reduce this, and for temporary work at height is often the safest solution.
A number of fatal and serious accidents have occurred on MEWPS where operators have become trapped between the guardrails or other equipment on the platform and adjacent obstructions. Many of these have happened in construction activities but not all. The H&SE wish to publicise the issue and direct users to new guidance which addresses this particular aspect of MEWP use.
Also see:
1. Construction Plant Hire Asscoiation: MEWPS - avoiding trapping / crushing injuries
2. Wikipedia: Aerial work platform
3. Wikipedia: Cherry picker
H&SE: The selection and management of mobile elevating work platforms
H&SE: Preventing falls from boomtype mobile elevating work platforms
Story Type: News
ID: 54581
