INTERNATIONAL NEWS


International news How to perform pre-start inspections


To comply with ANSI standards in the US, operators of aerial work platforms (AWPs) must perform pre-start inspections of machines before use each day or at the beginning of each shift. AWPT (American Work


Platform Training), the North


Lift Safety Zone highlights ground support requirements


Growth expected in European powered access market: IPAF Rental Reports


IPAF highlighted its new Look Down Before Going Up safety initiative at CONEXPO -CON/AGG in Las Vegas. It aims to make aerial work platform users aware of the dangers of inadequate assessment of ground conditions before use. Visitors were asked to


guess the weight of a typical 18m boom. Most guesses were 50 per cent below the actual weight. The message is simple:


the machine may be much heavier than you imagine and loads may be concentrated on one wheel, so always check ground conditions.


Mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) rental revenues are expected to grow steadily in European markets over the next two years, according to the IPAF European Powered Access Rental Report 2011. MEWP rental revenues in the


11 European countries surveyed remained stable during 2010, with an estimated value of €2.2 billion euros. This figure represents 85 per cent of the total European market (defined as 27 countries plus Norway), resulting in a total market value approaching €2.6 billion. “Europe is a diversified market


for MEWP rentals and 2010 was a year of sharp contrasts,” said IPAF’s CEO, Tim Whiteman. “It is a market driven by


specialists, such as in Germany, Benelux and Italy, which have been less affected by the crisis and resumed faster growth.” Growth is expected to remain


gradual, at around five per cent per year, throughout 2011 and 2012. The reports can be purchased


at www.ipaf.org/reports and they are presented in an easy-to-read format, highlighting key facts and figures for senior management, such as fleet size, utilisation rate and retention period. New for this year is an analysis


of fleet mix, comparing the proportion of scissors and booms in Europe. Booms currently represent around 46 per cent compared to scissors at 49 per cent of the fleet.


GAM AND LAVENDON CHIEFS EARN THEIR PAL CARDS


Access business CEOs are taking the lead with prioritising safety. Carlos Fernández Araoz, chief


operating officer of GAM, one of Spain’s largest equipment rental companies, and Kevin Appleton, then chief executive of the UK-based Lavendon Group, are now proud holders of IPAF’s PAL Card (Powered Access Licence). Araoz and Appleton were


44 | POWERED ACCESS 2012


trained at Lavendon-owned Nationwide Platforms in machine categories 3a (mobile vertical, scissor lift) and 3b (mobile boom, self-propelled boom). The full-day course included a


theory session followed by a written test to gauge knowledge, and a practical session ending with a practical assessment of operating skill and ability.


American subsidiary of IPAF, has released a safety video that demonstrates how daily pre-start inspections should be performed. It can be viewed and downloaded at the Publications/Film section of www.awpt.org. There are two versions of the


video: one for scissor lifts and one for boom lifts. Each version is about 13


minutes long. Both are targeted primarily at audiences in the US and Canada, but they offer good general guidelines for safety and best practice.


Petrobras safety officers get trained


Several safety officers from Petrobras, the Brazilian multinational energy and oil production company, have completed the IPAF operator training course for the first time at a Rio de Janeiro plant. The course was delivered


by IPAF-approved training centre Mills Rental. Petrobras intends to


establish high training standards for platform operators in all its plants across Brazil. It is one of the largest companies in Latin America, in terms of market capitalisation and revenue. IPAF’s Latin American


office is based in Chile and the IPAF Brazilian Country Council is participating in the ongoing review of the Brazilian regulations concerning MEWPs.


First Singaporean IPAF training centre gains government recognition


IPAF-approved training centre BS Technology, based in Singapore, has become the Ministry of Manpower’s first Accredited Training Provider for MEWPs. Its IPAF scissor lift and


boom lift operator courses have been recognised as meeting the criteria defined by the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Council in its Curriculum Development Advisory document.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68