10.10.2012

IPAF accident statistics - third quarter

IPAF’s aerial lift accident reporting project shows that 26 deaths resulting from 25 accidents were reported worldwide from January to September 2012.

Results for the last quarter reveal that there were seven fatalities from six accidents reported in the months of July, August and September. These accidents all involved booms and the main causes were: electrocution (2), fall from platform (2), overturn (1) and entrapment (1).

In one of the accidents involving electrocution, both the operator and a work colleague in the platform died. Together with three updates on the provisional half-year results announced in July, this brings the reported number of fatal accidents worldwide involving MEWPs/AWPs between January and September to 25.

Of these 25 accidents, 15 involved booms, seven involved vehicle mounts and three involved scissor lifts.

The main causes were reported as: fall from platform (7), electrocution (6), overturn (5), mechanical/technical (4) and entrapment (3).
15 of the accidents occurred in the USA, three in the Netherlands, two in the UK and one each in Australia, Canada, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland.

“There are nearly 1.5 million aerial lifts in use around the world, and while every death is a tragedy, powered access is still a very safe way to work at height,” said IPAF chief executive Tim Whiteman. “The analysis of accident data will allow the industry to become even safer.”

Vertikal Comment

The fact that these statistics are now being collected and analysed in a disciplined and consistent manner the industry will have a clear view on where additional caution is required and in what locations. The USA, Netherlands and UK are at the top of the list due to the high number of lifts in operation every day and the level of market penetration that powered access enjoys in those markets.

These numbers also demonstrate how safe powered access is, it is far more likely that a person will suffer a fatality travelling to work either by car, bus, cycling or walking than while using an aerial lift.

Finally the falls from platform is odd and possibly should be ‘catapulted from platform’ rather than fell? and reflects the fact that too many users of boom lifts still fail to use a harness and short lanyard.