IPAF will launch Singapore’s first industry-led safety campaign for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) at Raffles Country Club on 19 December 2013 at 5pm.
The industry-led MEWP safety campaign, supported by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, rides on the success of IPAF’s worldwide initiatives, such as the Clunk Click campaign, which calls for users of boom-type platforms to wear a full body harness with a short restraint lanyard attached to a suitable anchor point. Reference can be made to IPAF technical guidance H1, available at the Publications section of www.ipaf.org.
“Despite active publicity, there are still people out there who do not put on a harness in a boom-type platform and who risk being catapulted out in the event of an accident,” said Raymond Wat, regional manager, IPAF South East Asia. “IPAF and its members are committed to bring this awareness to all users.”
IPAF is also distributing “Are you trained?” stickers which highlight the need for training when operating any type of MEWP. In Singapore, all MEWP operators are required to be trained by MOM Accredited Training Providers (ATPs). Several IPAF-approved training centres in Singapore are also MOM ATPs.
The IPAF training programme for MEWP operators was developed by leading industry professionals and is certified by TÜV as conforming to the international standard ISO 18878 Mobile elevating work platforms – Operator (driver) training. More than 100,000 operators are trained each year through a worldwide network of over 550 training centres. Successful trainees receive a PAL Card (Powered Access Licence), a safety guide, a log book and a certificate.
IPAF members will be pasting safety stickers on their machines and IPAF staff will be available to provide free talks on MEWP safety to companies during their toolbox meetings or safety weeks. E-mail Raymond Wat on [email protected] to arrange for a free MEWP safety talk for your organisation or to obtain safety stickers. For more details, visit www.ipaf.org.
