HSE has issued Safety Notice: Avoiding trapping/crushing injuries to people in the platform of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) following the publication of new industry guidance on safety in the use of MEWPs.
The guidance is to help the construction industry reduce the risk of trapping and crushing injuries to people working in mobile elevating work platforms. The HSE Notice advices MEWP suppliers and users to act on the guidance.
HSE add that inspectors will "consider enforcement action where they believe there is a risk of entrapment which is not being managed effectively".
This HSE Safey Notice is addressed to MEWP suppliers and users.
We are aware that some MEWP users have considered the retrofitting of devices to reduce the risk of crushing or entrapment. Indeed, the industry guidance states that a "task specific risk assessment may indicate that fitting additional equipment or device(s) to a MEWP may provide additional safety in particular types of work".
However, the guidance also highlights the minefield of restrictions and regulations which surround modifications to CE marked equipment. Improvements in MEWP safety through design is therefore more likely to come from proactive work by suppliers and manufacturers.
This article was posted on 16th July 2010 in ALL LATEST NEWS, MEWPS.