Checking the safety of your working at height equipment
Share:
Part of the Working at Height regulations includes an obligation to have working at height equipment fully inspected at regular intervals to ensure that it is safe and fit for purpose.
In addition, there is a need to check the safety of your working at height equipment outside of these regular inspections, especially if the equipment is disassembled and reassembled, or has been exposed to the elements.
OFFICIAL INSPECTIONS
With the regular full inspections, guidelines suggest the following intervals:
Light Use – inspect every 52 weeks
Medium Use – inspect every 26 weeks
Heavy Use – inspect every 12 weeks
These inspections should be carried out by an impartial and independent person, and are designed to provide a regular safety assessment. You must keep records of these safety inspections.
It is the owner of the access equipment who is responsible for these regular inspections, so if you choose to hire rather than buy, make sure you use a reputable supplier (like JPS Tool and Access).
PRE-USE CHECKS
The regulatory inspections aren’t the only time you should check the safety of your working at height equipment and perform regular maintenance, however. Even if you hire in the equipment from someone who has completed the regulatory inspections, you should always conduct safety checks prior to using any access equipment.
IPAF have created a “MEWP Pre-Use Inspection Checklist” that sets out the types of checks you should undertake before using access equipment. Many of the items on the list require a visual check and only take a moment. Other items require conducting a powered check of the operation of the item, before the equipment is used. Areas included on the checklist are:
- Documentation
- Wheels/tyres
- Engine/power source
- Hydraulics
- Hoses and cables
- Outriggers/stabilisers
- Chassis, boom, scissor pack
- Platform or cage
- Decals and signage
The checklist goes into more detail on each of these areas, and includes the function checks for using Ground and Platform controls.
You can also find videos from IPAF that run through the pre-start checks for Boom Lifts and Vertical Lifts.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKS
Pre-use checks shouldn’t just cover the equipment itself – checking the safety of the working environment is also a factor, and should be conducted each time working at height occurs.
Checks should include:
- Surface the equipment will be resting on (check for holes, debris, loose gravel, slopes/ditches, bumps etc)
- Ceiling height (if indoors)
- Overhead power lines, cables, or other obstructions
- Weather conditions (if outside)
- Proximity to other buildings/properties/workspaces/people
DURING-USE AWARENESS
Although the pre-use checks should identify any areas for concern (see “if there’s a problem”, below, for what to do if there are areas for concern), operators and users of access equipment should continue to be vigilant during their work. This vigilance should include keeping a check on the equipment and its function.
If there is any fault or defect discovered or that develops during use, all workers should safely descend from height and discontinue use of the equipment.
IF THERE’S A PROBLEM
If, for any reason, a piece of equipment does not pass all of the checks on the list, or develops an issue duing use, it should not be used. The equipment should be removed from service until the defect is repaired or resolved by a qualified person.
