18.01.2011

Scissor lifts and EN280

A CEN project to determine if current scissor lifts comply with EN280, the European standard governing the design and manufacture of aerial lifts, and the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC will get underway later this month.

The project was agreed by the CEN Machinery ADCO Committee in 2009 and will involve four countries: Cyprus, Ireland, Poland and the UK.

The UK Health & Safety Executive has announced that it will start its work later this month in Northern Ireland. It is sending out a number of survey forms to manufacturers and dealers, which it will follow up with a visit and possibly some functional testing.
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The survey will look at a range of makes and models and will focus on whether the lift is fitted with safety devices as stipulated in EN280 which monitor or control components that affect the stability of the machine. The survey will also look at some guarding issues. It is envisaged that the project will be completed by the end of March.

Dr Stewart Arnold, HSE principal special inspector (mechanical engineering), is leading the project and said: “We would like IPAF members and other interested parties to know that this work is taking place. Queries can be directed to the project team.”

IPAF has welcomed the initiative and has asked its members to assist in any way they can. IPAF members with any questions regarding the project can contact the IPAF Technical Officer.

Vertikal Comment

Aerial lifts do not necessarily need to comply with EN280 which is merely a standard, however they do need to comply fully with all European directives and EN280 is the easiest and clearest way to do so, given that the standard is written specifically to ensure compliance.

Inspectors are likely to be looking at such things as how the platform overload system functions, the functionality of safety switches, pothole/kerb test calculations and performance, outrigger/stabiliser/oscillating axle function and interlocks, elevated drive speeds, safety switch redundancy and anything that is likely to have an impact on the stability of a given machine.

Arnold has a good deal of experience in this area and was a key player in the HSE study and report on Tallescope stability in 2009.

It is hard to understand quite what this exercise will achieve, apart from showing that as is normal each manufacturer will have a different method to achieve the same end. It may also indicate that some put a great deal more effort…and cost …into complying than others do?

How this information will be used in a tangible way is hard to see, but having senior inspectors become more familiar with the products and how they meet the regulations can only be a good thing.