29.07.2012

IPAF reports 17 fatalities

IPAF’s new accident reporting database has logged 17 fatal accidents involving work platforms in the first half of 2012.

The causes of these accidents were spread evenly with electrocution, overturn, mechanically related and falls from platform each cited as the cause of four deaths. Entrapment was given as the cause of the other.

Seven of the incidents involved vehicle mounted lifts, six involved self-propelled boom lifts and three involved scissor lifts. In one case the machine type was given as unknown.

11 of the incidents occurred in the USA, two in the UK and one each in Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore and Spain.

Presenting the findings, IPAF technical officer Chris Wraith stressed that the results are preliminary and encouraged all manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users to report all known fatal and serious accidents involving aerial work platforms at www.ipaf.org/accident

IPAF chief executive Time Whiteman added: “Powered access offers a safe and effective way to work at height, and we are collecting accident data in order to determine the main causes of the few accidents that do happen. Data collected is kept confidential and will enable us to analyse any trends and make recommendations for improving safety.”

30 IPAF member companies have already signed a voluntary pledge to report all known accidents at their company involving aerial lifts.