July 27, 2016
Aerial Work Remains Dangerous
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“Despite advances in safety for construction workers across a variety of settings, those who must use elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and aerial work platforms (AWPs) to perform their job duties remain at risk.
According to the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), 68 workers died in 2015 while operating or working on a MEWP. Most of the reported fatalities resulted from falls, electrocution, entrapment, and overturned platforms. The results are calculated on a worldwide basis, based on self-reporting from manufacturers, rental companies, contractors, and individual MEWP and AWP users.
Although MEWP-related accidents have one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries per number of MEWP rental days, the number of deaths attributable to MEWPs can still be reduced when construction site managers take the proper precautions. Daily inspections of MEWP and AWPs must take place, and all workers who will use a MEWP or AWP must receive safety training. Additionally, it is imperative that construction workers utilize safety harnesses, hard hats, and other equipment that will guard against injury in the event of a construction accident.”
