02.10.2003

HSE publishes 'cherry picker' guidance note

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new information sheet on preventing falls from boom-type Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPS), often called ‘cherry pickers’.

Falls from a height are the most common cause of death and the second most common cause of serious injuries at work. HSE is committed to reducing the number of deaths from falls from height by 10% over a ten-year period.

This new guidance is aimed at those who use or control the operations of boom type MEWPs, used across a range of industries including construction, agriculture (such as aborists and tree surgeons), public utilities and shipbuilding.

HSE Information Sheet MISC614 - Preventing falls from boom-type mobile elevating work platforms clarifies the issues surrounding the selection and use of appropriate personal fall protection equipment used as part of a suitable personal fall protection system. A personal fall protection system is an assembly of individual components, for example, a full body harness and lanyard with or without a shock absorber pack. A variety of equipment is available to prevent a person falling (work restraint) or to save them once they have fallen (fall arrest).

In developing this guidance the causes of accidents involving MEWPs were analysed. This showed that accidents were primarily caused by unsuitable ground conditions; critical parts of the MEWP failing or malfunctioning; or the MEWP being struck by another vehicle. Consequently it is critical that these issues are eliminated or properly controlled.

Fall protection should not be relied upon as the only means of control because if the MEWP is pushed over or falls over being attached to it by a fall protection system is unlikely to prevent you from being injured or killed. For this reason, advice on controlling the risk by ensuring safe site, safe plant and safe operator are an essential part of this guidance.

This guidance does not specifically apply to scissor lifts where fall protection is not normally required, unless a person needs to lean over the guardrail. In this instance, the sections of the guidance that relate to a safe plant, safe site and safe operator is relevant to preventing falls from scissors lifts due to overturning incidents.