Health and Safety

In the Construction Sector

Working at Height
(Ladder & Access Equipment Safety)

SAUDICO HSE PROCEDURES

What is “Work at Height”?
Explains for the purposes of the Regulations, certain words and phrases that will crop
up throughout the document which unless defined could be interpreted differently from
one industry to another.

What is ‘work at height’?

Regulation 2
 A place is ‘at height’ if (unless these
Regulations are followed) a person
could be injured falling from it, even if
it is at or below ground level.

 ‘Work’ includes moving around at a

place of work (except by a staircase in
a permanent workplace) but not
travel to or from a place of work. For
instance, a sales assistant on a
stepladder would be working at
height, but the HSE would not be
inclined to apply the Regulations to a
mounted police officer on patrol.

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Controls Hierarchy
1. Avoid - The risk by not working at height – where it is
reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely by other
means.
2. Prevent - Falls – where it is not reasonably practicable to
avoid work at height you should assess the risks and take
measures to allow the work to be done whilst preventing so
far as is reasonably practicable, people or objects falling.
This might include ensuring the work is carried out from an
existing place of work; or choosing the right work
equipment.
3. Minimise - The consequences of a fall – where the risk of
people or objects falling still remains you should take steps
to minimise the distance and the consequences of such falls,
this also involves the selection and safe use of work
equipment.
At all stages the collective protective measures should always
have precedence over personal protective equipment
Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005
Guidance
Working at height Not working at height
 Working on a scaffold  Activities carried out by private
or MEWP individuals (even if the equipment
 Working on the back used is from work). However, if
of a lorry the home owner employs a
 Using cradles or gardener to cut the hedges then
ropes to gain access the WAHR will apply.
 Climbing permanent  Trips and slips on the level
structures such as surface
gantries  Falls on permanent stairways
 Working close to (unless under structural
excavations, cellars maintenance)
or other openings.  Working in a building (e.g.office)
 Staging or trestles with multiple floors where there
(concerts filming etc) is no risk of falling (except if the
staff use a stepladder to change
the bulbs within the office)
Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005
Scaffolding

 Erection,modification, dismantling by
a ‘competent person’
 Inspection before use by a
‘competent person’
 Inspection reports
 Handover certificate from scaffolding
contractor (SCAFFTAG)

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Scaffolding
Never use a scaffold
unless:
 erected by a ‘competent
person’
 inspected before first time
use
 inspected within past 7 days
 it is re-inspected after:
 a) adverse weather
 b) modification
 c) alteration
 d) any event likely to
have affected stability
Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005
Scaffolding
Protection of the
public:
 containment nets
 guard-rails
 brick-guards
 toe-boards
 protective fans
 minimise ‘contact’ hazards
 adequate lighting at night

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Hoists and hoist towers

Must be:

 erected by a ‘competent person’

 operated by a trained and ‘competent
person’

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Hoists and hoist towers
Legal standards for:
 construction, erection,
maintenance
 testing and examination
 record keeping

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Operating hoists
Operators and signallers must be:

 at least 21 years of age

 trained and competent

No other person may give signals:

 unless under competent supervision
for training
Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005
Operating hoists
Notices to be displayed:

 safe working loads

 conditions of use
Passengers must not be carried
in goods hoists

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Ladder safety
 Check for defects before use
 Report all defects
 Do not paint ladders
 Never use aluminium ladders
near electrical equipment
 Employer maintains record
of inspections
 The right ladder for the job
 Know and use the safe
systems of work
 75° angle, i.e. 1:4

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Types of MEWP
Scissor
lifts

Articulating boom

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Types of MEWP

Telescopic
boom

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Safety harnesses
MUST BE WORN AT
ALL TIMES
 Protect against
falling caused by:
 a collision

 rough terrain
 overreaching or
overbalancing
Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005
Safety harnesses
 Never attach a harness to a point
outside a platform

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Safety helmets
If there are overhead
obstructions, you must
wear a safety helmet

Always use a chin

strap if there is a
danger of it falling off

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Roof work
No ‘safe height’
Hazardous situations:
 working platforms
 scaffolds
 ladders
 roofs
a) flat
b) pitched

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Roof work
 Hazardous situations
(continued):

 open steel work

 working on or near:
a) fragile materials
b) openings
c) holes
d) roof edges

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Flat roofs
 Less than 10° pitch

 No parapet or barrier:

 guard-rails and toe-boards

or
 barrier set back from roof edge

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Flat roofs

Removal of guard-rail for work at edge:

 safe systems employed

and
 re-erected as soon as work ceases

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Sloping roofs
 30° pitch and above
or
 10° to 30° if slippery

 Work should only be done:

 by physically capable
employees using securely
fixed crawling boards and
ladders

 using a catch barrier or a

platform at eaves level

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

Sloping roofs

 Roofs over 50° or

slippery:

 use a working
platform

Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005

 Summary
Work at Heights Regulations
Require you to carry out a risk assessment for ALL
work carried out at height and put into place
arrangements for:
 Eliminating or minimising risks from
working at height;
 Safe systems of Work for organising and
performing work at height;
 Safe systems for selecting suitable work
equipment; and
 Safe systems for protecting people from the
consequences of working at height.
The risk assessment and the action taken should be
proportionate to the harm may occur if no action was
taken. It should aim to avoid the activity or, where this is
not reasonably practicable, carefully examine any residual
risks even if work is carried out in a safe manner using
appropriate work equipment.
Whitegate Health & Safety Productions C2005
 RIYADH BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) PROJECT
HSE Information
Ref: BRT-HSE-INFORMATION-19 Scissor Lifts December 2018

Scissor Lift MEWPS – Stay Sharp and Don’t Cut Corners

At approximately 11.30am this morning a Scissor Lift belonging to Saudico Contractor AIC Steel which was being
used to help with surveying alignment at BRT11-18 tipped over the edge of the BRT concrete foundation, and came
to rest in the yet unfinished bus-lane. The operator of the scissor lift a Mr Devaraju was tipped out of the basket,
and suffered bruising to his leg. This accident is now under investigation by Saudico.

Scissor lifts are a MEWP (Mobile Elevated Working Platform) and have a platform that moves straight up and down.
Around the work platform, there is a mid- rail and a top rail to protect workers from falling off the platform. When
these lifts are extended and stationary, they can serve a very similar purpose to scaffolding. When scissor lifts are
elevated, they are very tall and narrow, making them very susceptible to tipping over if they are not stabilised and
or moved properly. The first step to preventing the lift from tipping over is to ensure that it is on firm, stable, level
ground. This base needs to have a strong, even foundation to support the scissor lift when it is elevated.

Some safe work practices to ensure safe, stable conditions for Scissor Lifts and prevent tip-over include:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe movement—this usually rules out moving the lift in an
elevated position.
• Isolate the scissor lift or implement traffic control measures to ensure that other equipment cannot come
into contact the scissor lift.
• Select work locations with firm, level surfaces away from hazards that can cause instability (e.g., drop-
offs, holes, slopes, bumps, ground obstructions, or debris).
• Use the scissor lift outside only when weather conditions are good. Scissor lifts rated for outdoor use are
generally limited to wind speeds below 28 miles per hour.

Please remember that not all MEWPS are the same, and each type has very different operating characteristics,
therefore the risk has to be properly assessed, and the appropriate controls implemented to ensure safe use of the
particular MEWP being used. Before work starts, the risk assessment should be reviewed to allow for any changes
in circumstances, such as changes in site access, ground conditions, the task to be carried out, and or the weather
conditions, etc. Those involved in the work should report any problems with the risk assessment immediately, and
should they need to deviate from the agreed risk assessment, this should be agreed with the relevant personnel
before any changes are made.

Information on the safe use of MEWPs can be found here http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis6.pdf

Charles McLaughlin
Project HSE Manager
ADA-SM BRT Project Riyadh
Mob: +966 (0) 50-431-3467
 Health and Safety
Executive

The selection, management and use of mobile

elevating work platforms

HSE information sheet General Information Sheet No 6

Introduction

This information sheet is aimed at those who select,

specify, manage and operate mobile elevating work
platforms (MEWPs).

It tells you what you should consider before selecting

a MEWP to gain access to work at height and the
risks that need to be assessed and managed while the
MEWP is in use.

All types of MEWPs are covered by this guidance,

including ones that are:

■■ vertical ‘scissor’ lift;

■■ self-propelled boom;
■■ vehicle-mounted boom; and
■■ trailer-mounted boom.

This information sheet has been produced in

consultation with the Strategic Forum for Plant Safety
– MEWP Safety Group.

What the law requires

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require an
assessment to be carried out before starting any
work at height. If the assessment determines that the
work can be carried out in a way that avoids having
someone working at height then this must be done.
However, if the assessment confirms that there is no
alternative to working at height then the work must
be properly planned and organised in advance by a
competent person to ensure that the most suitable
work equipment is chosen.
When choosing the most suitable work equipment,
you must follow the fall protection hierarchy. This
states the order in which protective measures should
be considered to prevent and mitigate the risks when
working at height cannot be avoided.
Figure 1 Operating a MEWP near overhead structures
focuses on minimising the overturning risks associated
with mobile work equipment such as MEWPs. This
is particularly relevant when considering the ground,
environmental and operating conditions that the
MEWP may experience.
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment
Regulations 1998 (LOLER) require that all lifting
operations are to be planned by a competent
person and that any equipment used for lifting or
lowering loads or people (including MEWPs) should
be of adequate strength and stability and thoroughly
examined at regular intervals thereafter.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

1998 (PUWER) require the risks from using equipment
at work to be prevented or controlled and specifically

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Assessing the risk
MEWPs are designed to provide a safe work platform
for temporary work at height. In relation to the fall
protection hierarchy, they are considered to be work
equipment that can prevent a fall.
It is important that those responsible for selecting,
specifying and managing MEWPs on site (the
competent person) understand the risks associated
with the use of a MEWP so they can advise on the
precautions required to eliminate or control those
risks. Planning is crucial to their safe operation and
the stages below are designed to help you with your
planning.
Selection criteria
There are many different types of MEWP with various
rated capacities, working heights and outreaches.
Before you decide which type of MEWP is the most
suitable for the job, think about the following (this list is
not exhaustive):
■■ What work needs to be done?
■■ At what stage in the job will the MEWP be needed
and what will the ground conditions or supporting
structure be like at that stage (ie rough, prepared,
poured slab, finished surface etc)?
■■ What access is there onto the site to deliver/collect
a MEWP and to travel it to and from the work
location?
■■ What terrain and gradient will the MEWP have to
cross to get to the work position and is operator
visibility and segregation adequate for the
manoeuvre?
■■ Are there any overhead power lines or
subterranean hazards on site to be avoided?
■■ How much space is available to position and
operate the MEWP at the work position?
■■ What is the maximum ground bearing capacity at
the work area and along the route to and from the
work positions?
■■ How many people need to be lifted?
■■ What is the required safe working load (SWL) of the
machine?
■■ What height and outreach are required?
■■ Will the MEWP be expected to move in the
elevated position?
■■ Are there likely to be any overhead structures that
the operator could be crushed against?
■■ Are there any materials to be lifted and if so what is
their weight/shape/length?
■■ Are material handling devices required?
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■■ What interface is there with other vehicles and
pedestrians and are there any unusual issues, eg
aircraft, rail traffic, public highway?
■■ What fuel type is allowed on site and where will
refuelling take place?
Managing the risk
Once you have chosen the most suitable type and
size of MEWP for the job you need to look at the
hazards associated with using it, assess the risks and
identify control measures to develop a safe working
method. The following areas should be considered.
Delivery to and collection from site
Think about what size of delivery vehicle or vehicle-
mounted MEWP will need access to site or whether a
self-propelled MEWP will have to be off-loaded on the
public highway. You should liaise with your supplier/
haulage company on the following matters:
■■ What time of day will be most appropriate?
■■ Will the MEWP need to be reversed off the delivery
vehicle or, if vehicle-mounted, reversed onto site?
■■ What size of turning circle will be needed?
■■ Who will meet the delivery driver?
■■ If you have to unload/reload the MEWP on
the public highway, this still forms part of your
undertaking and will require adequate control
measures to protect/segregate pedestrians and
other road users during these manoeuvres.
■■ Is the lighting adequate or is more required?
■■ Is the ground capacity suitable? Are there manhole
covers or other features that must be avoided?
Storage/charging area
Wherever possible, keep MEWPs in a secure
compound or in a designated area with the engine or
motor switched off, the working platform lowered to its
parked position and the brakes applied. If it has to be
parked on a gradient, the wheels should be chocked.
Recharging electrically powered MEWPs should
be carried out in an area that is protected from the
elements.
It is the MEWP users responsibility to make sure
that the MEWP cannot be used by unauthorised
persons. Different options for isolating machines and
preventing unauthorised use are being developed by
manufacturers and hirers and you may wish to discuss
what would work best for you with your supplier.
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Positioning before and during work
Consider the following:
■■ What type of ground will the MEWP have to travel
across before reaching its work position, eg hard,
firm, soft, sloping, uneven terrain, soft spots, kerbs,
subterranean hazards (such as tanks, cellars and
culverts, inspection covers, sewers and service
trenches), paved areas, footpaths, waterlogged
areas, frozen ground etc?
■■ Is a banksman or vehicle marshaller required when
moving the MEWP across the site to its work
position?
■■ Will a wander lead be utilised and, if so, is it long
enough to keep the operator at a safe distance?
■■ Is the ground sufficiently level at the work location?
■■ What is the ground bearing capacity at the work
position and along the route to and from it? Is there
enough space for the outriggers to be deployed?
■■ What is the maximum point load (under a wheel,
outrigger or jack pad)? Are spreader plates
required?
■■ Will the MEWP have to pass beneath any overhead
power lines? If so, is there enough clearance and
has the area been demarcated?
■■ Will the MEWP have to be lifted into position by
crane? Are the MEWP lifting points well indicated
and is the weight of the MEWP and radius of lift
known? Is there an Appointed Person to plan
the lift?
■■ Will the MEWP have to operate on ground floor
slabs or slabs at other levels in the structure? Has
the risk of the MEWP running off the edge of a
ground floor slab onto soft ground or off the edge
of an elevated floor slab been considered? How
will the risk be controlled?
■■ Have segregation/control measures been
considered to prevent the MEWP encroaching into
or over live vehicle or pedestrian routes?
Temporary works (ground conditions and
supporting structures)
The person in control of the site should supply
relevant information about the ground bearing
capacity, terrain, gradient, base area, load bearing
capability of supporting structures and any localised
ground features, such as trenches, manholes and
uncompacted backfill, which could lead to overturning.
BS 5975:2008 Code of Practice for temporary works
procedures and the permissible stress design of
falsework provides more detail on temporary works
and the elements that should be included.
If operating on a precast or cast in-situ concrete slab,
request the slab loading limits from the person in
control of the site and check how this compares with
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Executive
the maximum weight of the MEWP and the maximum
point load that it could exert on the floor. Has enough
time been allowed for the concrete to cure?
Adverse weather
Think about wet, cold and windy weather.
■■ Is the MEWP designed only for indoor use or can it
be used outdoors?
■■ What is the manufacturer’s maximum wind speed
in which the MEWP can operate safely?
■■ How will the wind speed be checked (usually with
an anemometer) and by whom?
■■ Is the MEWP being operated between buildings
where increased wind speed and/or turbulence
can be a particular problem?
■■ What about the potential for wind chill, which can
affect the operator’s dexterity and concentration?
■■ If using a MEWP rated as ‘indoor only’ think about
wind exposure, eg in a partially clad building or
where large doors are open at both ends of a fully
clad building.
Falling from the platform
One of the biggest risks when using boom-type
platforms is being thrown out of the basket if the
boom swings, jolts or tilts away from the machine’s
centre of gravity (this can occur when travelling in a
MEWP), or if the operator overreaches (usually by
standing on the guard rails). Other causes can be
impact by other vehicles or snagging the boom or
basket on obstructions. The precautions described in
this guidance are designed to minimise the chances
of this happening but any risk assessment must still
consider the use of personal fall prevention equipment.
Where there is a risk of impact or someone falling
from a boom-type MEWP, those people should wear
appropriate fall prevention equipment.
The preferred option is to stop the person falling from
the work platform by using a work restraint system. A
work restraint system should normally consist of a full-
body harness (BS EN 361) connected to a lanyard (BS
EN 354) which is connected to an anchor point on the
MEWP basket. From the anchor point, the lanyard
length should be short enough to prevent a
person reaching a position where they could fall.
The lanyard may contain an energy-absorbing device
(BS EN 355), but should still only be used as part of a
work restraint system.
Do not use retractable type fall arresters (BS EN 360)
unless they are suitable and have been specifically
tested in the proposed manner of use.
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Figure 2 Examples of secondary guarding devices
For information about restraint systems used in
arboriculture and forestry, refer to the HSE leaflet
Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) for tree work
AFAG403.
Working next to, or over water must be assessed
to identify whether the greatest risk of injury to the
operator is from falling from the MEWP basket or
drowning, if the MEWP falls into the water. The
decision can then be made as to whether it is most
appropriate to wear a harness to address the fall risk
or whether a harness should not be worn due to the
risk of drowning. Life jackets, not harnesses should be
worn where there is a risk of drowning.
Overhead hazards
Look for any overhead hazards such as power lines,
steel beams, pipe bridges, arches or trees and take
account of any risks they present and any control
measures needed.
Trapping/crushing against overhead and adjacent
obstructions
When operating a MEWP where there are adjacent or
overhead structures, it is possible that the operator
could be trapped or crushed against those structures.
This entrapment can result in serious, sometimes fatal
injury.
If there are structures against which an operator could
be trapped or crushed, consider selecting a MEWP
fitted with a secondary guarding device which will
prevent, or mitigate against the consequences of
trapping or crushing (see Figure 2).
For further guidance, see Best practice guidance
for MEWPs and MEWPs - Guidance on secondary
guarding devices available to reduce the risk of
entrapment injury (see Further reading).
Extra care must be taken if MEWPs are used to
manoeuvre up through steelwork, service ducts or
other obstacles as there is a risk of the operator
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Executive
being trapped between the basket and surrounding
structures. This risk increases when the number of
levels the MEWP operates through increases, and
when clearance is reduced due to materials being
loaded onto the lower levels.
MEWPs are fitted with proportional controls to allow
smooth operation and movement of the platform.
There can be an element of ‘run-on’ when the controls
are released abruptly, which may mean the platform
continues to move for a short time after the controls
have been released. Therefore, particular care must be
taken when working close to overhead structures to
avoid the impact and possible risk of crushing.
Manoeuvring the basket with the operator crouched
over the control panel to try to avoid overhead
obstructions is dangerous and should not be done.
Site traffic and personnel
Think about how the MEWP interacts with other site
traffic and personnel.
■■ Does the operator have limited visibility, particularly
during reversing? Is a banksman required?
■■ What is required in terms of vehicle route signage,
pedestrian and vehicle segregation barriers, cones,
crossings etc?
■■ Is there a risk of trapping other workers between
the counterweight and an adjacent structure during
slewing?
■■ Are people below protected from the risk of
objects falling from the basket? The first priority
should be to keep people out of the area but, if it is
necessary to have people working in an area where
they could be at risk of being struck by a falling
object, you must put control measures in place, eg
tool lanyards.
■■ When working in an area used by other workers
or vehicles, the entire MEWP work area (based
on required outreach distances and not just base
structure footprint) should be barricaded using
cones and warning signs etc.
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■■ How many lifting devices are working in the area
and is there any risk they could collide with each
other?
■■ Does any part of the MEWP protrude out of the
confines of the work area? Note: you must never
boom over live traffic.
■■ Are you working within 6 km of an aerodrome/
airfield using a MEWP in excess of 10 m in height?
If so, you should contact the airfield manager for
permission to work in that air space.
Handling materials
If MEWPs are to be used to install materials, it is
essential to know the weight and dimensions of
those materials and to properly consider any manual
handling and load distribution issues.
Boom-type MEWPs generally have smaller baskets
and lower lift capacities than scissor-type MEWPs
and their platforms can ‘bounce’ at height due to the
boom structure flexing. This may make them less
suitable to use for installing long or heavy materials,
or bulky materials that may obstruct the control panel.
Materials should never be balanced on the handrails
of a MEWP. Instead, you should consider using a
second boom-type MEWP, a scissor lift, a crane or
a telehandler of appropriate capacity in conjunction
with an appropriate material handling attachment
where necessary (see Figure 3). The combination of
a MEWP used for access, with other plant to handle
the materials, reduces the risk of overturning and
minimises the risk of injury due to manual handling.
Remember, all people, tools, materials and material
handling devices add to the safe working load of the
machine. Never disable the platform overload system.
Where the overload alarm has been activated or
movement functions have cut out due to overload,
remove the overload immediately if possible before
attempting to recover the machine.
If you plan the work properly, the need for outreach
may be avoided by, for example, preparing or
reinstating the ground conditions in the area directly
beneath planned overhead work or by adjusting the
work schedule to delay the construction of low level
structures until work overhead has been completed.
Exiting the work platform at height
MEWPs are specifically designed to lift people to a
position where they can carry out work from the work
platform and then return to the starting level. They are
not intended to be used to transfer people from one
level to another or for people to exit the basket
at height.
Health and Safety
Executive
Figure 3 A MEWP fitted with a material handling device
Exiting the basket at height should be strictly
controlled and may only be undertaken where a
rigorous risk assessment carried out as part of
planning the job indicates that this is the safest
and most effective means of accessing a particular
location.
Further information can be found in BS 8460:2005
Annex B Guidance on safe systems of work for exiting
the work platform at height.
Pre-use checks and machine faults
The trained operator is responsible for carrying out
a basic daily/pre-use function check. In addition,
there will be basic maintenance required by the
manufacturer. Records of these checks should be
kept.
The operator should also be fully aware of the
procedure their employer expects them to follow
should they identify a fault with the MEWP, eg isolate
the controls, tag the machine and report the defect to
the person in control.
Thorough examination
MEWPs, and any material handling devices must be
thoroughly examined at least every six months by a
competent person, or at an increased frequency in
accordance with an examination scheme drawn up by
such a competent person. You should ask to see and
retain the report of the thorough examination for the
equipment you are going to allow to be used on your
site.
Training and certification
It is the employers responsibility to ensure that all
MEWP operators have been adequately trained.
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Although specific courses are not a strict legal
requirement, there are recognised schemes available.
Once the training and assessment has been
successfully completed, the operator is given a training
certificate or card, which clearly identifies the operator
and lists the categories of MEWP they are trained
to operate. This document can be updated as the
operator undergoes further training on different types/
sizes of MEWP. You should check the expiry date of
the training certificate or card.
For trained operators who have to access areas
where the risk of entrapment is increased due to the
proximity of adjacent or overhead structures, the
employer should check whether the operator’s training
is sufficient or whether additional training is required.
The additional training is designed to make operators
more aware of how to operate MEWPs in these higher
risk environments and reduce the risk of entrapment.
Operators using material handling attachments should
have received additional training in accordance with
the attachment manufacturer’s recommendations.
Operators and any other person being lifted by the
MEWP will need instruction in the correct fitting and
use of the harness, lanyard, rescue equipment and
the procedures for periodic inspection, maintenance
and storage of fall protection PPE (especially textile
equipment). For further information, refer to Inspecting
fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope (see
Further information).
Depending on the activity being undertaken you may
also require a competent person to supervise the
MEWP operations on site. Again, although specific
courses are not a strict legal requirement, there are
recognised training courses for those who manage
MEWP operations.
Familiarisation
Before being authorised to operate a particular make
or model of MEWP, it is the employer’s responsibility
to ensure that all operators are trained and given
adequate time to undertake familiarisation on the
use of the machine with a competent person.
Familiarisation should follow on from basic training and
should cover:
■■ manufacturer’s instructions and warning;
■■ features of the specific model of MEWP;
■■ the control functions particular to the specific
model of MEWP;
■■ the function of each safety device;
■■ the emergency lowering procedures.
Health and Safety
Executive
All of the above information can be found in the
operators manual which should be supplied with the
machine.
All familiarisations should be recorded.
Emergency and rescue procedure
The emergency and rescue plan should identify
nominated, trained, site-based personnel who would
be available to lower the work platform using the
ground controls or emergency descent system,
situated at the base of the machine, should the
elevated operator experience difficulties. These people
should be included in the familiarisation for the specific
machines being used on site and should be given
the opportunity to practice the emergency rescue
procedure at regular intervals.
The plan should also include the call-out details for the
service engineer or other person who is competent
and authorised to lower the work platform in the event
of an emergency or a machine malfunction.
Personal protective equipment
Operatives should wear the following, where
appropriate, following risk assessment:
■■ a hard hat (with or without a chin strap);
■■ suitable high visibility clothing;
■■ suitable cold/wet weather clothing; and
■■ a full body harness with a restraint lanyard or a fall
arrest lanyard suitably adjusted to prevent a fall
from the platform.
Documenting what you have done
The next stage is to record the planning and
communicate it to all those involved with the work.
Before work starts, the plan should be reviewed to
allow for any changes in circumstances, such as
changes in site access, ground conditions, the task to
be carried out, the weather conditions etc.
Make a record of who has been briefed and issued
with the plan.
Tell those involved in the work to report any problems
with the plan immediately. Should they need to
deviate from the plan, this should be agreed with the
competent person before any changes are made.
6 of 7 pages

Further reading
Working at height: A brief guide Leaflet INDG401(rev2)
HSE Books 2014
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.htm
Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or
rope Leaflet INDG367 HSE Books 2002
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg367.htm
BS 8460:2005 Safe use of MEWPs. Code of Practice
British Standards Institution
Crane stability on site C703 (Second edition) CIRIA
2003 ISBN 978 0 86017 703 6
BS ISO 18878:2013 Mobile elevating work platforms.
Operator (driver) training British Standards Institution
Avoiding danger from overhead power lines General
Guidance Note GS6 (Fourth edition) HSE 2013
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/gs6.htm
Managing health and safety in construction.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
2007. Approved Code of Practice L144 HSE Books
2007 ISBN 978 0 7176 6223 4
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l144.htm
Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 SI 1999/3242 www.legislation.gov.
uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made
Safe use of work equipment. Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved Code of
Practice and guidance L22 (Third edition) HSE Books
2008 ISBN 978 0 7176 6295 1
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l22.htm
Safe use of lifting equipment. Lifting Operations and
Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved Code
of Practice and guidance L113 HSE Books 1998 ISBN
978 0 7176 1628 2
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l113.htm
Manual handling. Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992 (as amended). Guidance on
Regulations L23 (Third edition) HSE Books 2004
ISBN 978 0 7176 2823 0
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l23.htm
Fall protection in mobile elevating work platforms
Technical Guidance Note H1 IPAF 2012
Familiarisation of MEWPs Technical Guidance Note F1
IPAF 2007
Published by the Health and Safety Executive GEIS6 10/14 7 of 7 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) for tree work
Leaflet AFAG403(rev1) HSE 2013
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/afag403.pdf
Best Practice Guidance for MEWPs: Avoiding
Trapping/Crushing Injuries to People in the Platform
Construction Plant-hire Association www.cpa.uk.net
MEWPs - Guidance on secondary guarding devices
available to reduce the risk of entrapment injury UKT3
04/14-002 IPAF www.ipaf.org
Operating Tower Cranes in the Vicinity of Aerodromes,
Notification and En-Route Obstacle Lighting TIN 039
Construction Plant-hire Association 2014
www.cpa.uk.net
Further information
For information about health and safety, or to report
inconsistencies or inaccuracies in this guidance, visit
www.hse.gov.uk/. You can view HSE guidance online
and order priced publications from the website. HSE
priced publications are also available from bookshops.
This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety
Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory,
unless specifically stated, and you are free to take
other action. But if you do follow the guidance you
will normally be doing enough to comply with the
law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure
compliance with the law and may refer to this
guidance.
The Stationery Office publications are available from
The Stationery Office, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN
Tel: 0870 600 5522 Fax: 0870 600 5533
email: customer.services@tso.co.uk Website:
www.tsoshop.co.uk. (They are also available from
bookshops.) Statutory Instruments can be viewed free
of charge at www.legislation.gov.uk where you can
also search for changes to legislation.
British Standards can be obtained in PDF or hard
copy formats from BSI: http://shop.bsigroup.com or
by contacting BSI Customer Services for hard copies
only Tel: 0845 086 9001
email: cservices@bsigroup.com.
This leaflet is available at:
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis6.htm.
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information visit www.hse.gov.uk/copyright.htm for
details. First published 10/14.