Safe Use of MEWPs

Back in a time before COVID there was an incident on a production in which several MEWPs toppled over. And whilst – thankfully – no-one was hurt, the incident could have been more serious. As a result, there was a desire to try and create a guidance document for productions on how MEWPs should be used safely on productions.

First Option reached out to various groups and companies across all interested parties and set up the Working Group that has been working ever since to create this guidance.

The guidance itself is primarily intended for the persons responsible for safety on productions but who have no in-depth knowledge of the specific requirements around MEWPs. It aims to collate current information and guidance and put it into the context of a production, so that you can make sure that those who are using them on your productions are doing so safely.

The guidance speaks specifically about Mobile Elevated Work Platforms: machines that are designed to lift people to height to enable them to work. Machines such as cherry pickers or scissor lifts, rather than telehandlers or cranes which are rather designed to lift and move items. Those machines are not covered in the guide.

It talks about how a lift should be managed, who might manage it for production, the competence of that person, the documents and checks that should be considered and the limitations there may be around attaching other items as well as many other elements.

I know what you’re thinking. Surely I’m going to have to fight the crowds at my local Waterstones for a copy of this, aren’t I? Well, good news! The guidance is available here and is free to access. You do not need a retained service to access it, and other members of the group will also be looking to host the guidance document.

If you are using MEWPs on your production and you want help and advice, please contact our team.