Elevated threat

The Industry is being alerted to the possible dangers of using mobile elevating working platforms (MEWPs) and telehandlers. The warning from the HSE comes after four fatal accidents using mobile plants in construction since 2003.

Geoff Cox, HSE head of operations for Yorkshire and the North-east, wants the construction industry to be aware of two specific risks and how they can be avoided.

The first is the risk of operators becoming trapped and unable to free themselves when working from a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP). The second relates to the poor visibility for workers useing telehandlers. Despite this equipment in particular adhering to European safety standards, the HSE and UK manufacturers are lobbying for design improvements.

The HSE is also offering guidance to control risk. Cox says: “It should be relatively simple to assess whether you might have a problem. Solving the problem may involve both management controls and physical measures.

“Management control issues relate to selecting the most appropriate equipment for the task and site, ensuring operators are properly trained and are familiar with the site and setting and enforcing site rules.”

So what needs to be done? With regard to MEWPs there is a real risk of operators being trapped against overhead and adjacent objects whilst in the platform. This tends to happen when an operator has been pushed against the controls while raising the platform or adjusting the position of the MEWP, and is unable to release the control and stop further movement.

Supervisors and other workers need to know how to operate an emergency descent system – many don’t - nor do they have access to the necessary keys, which hampers rescue attempts.

The HSE says contractors can assess the risk by answering:

• Are there overhead obstructions that an operator could come into contact with while the MEWP is being used?
• If so, is there a system or a physical barrier on the MEWP to prevent an operator from inadvertently operating the controls if they are accidentally pushed against them by an overhead or adjacent object while operating the equipment?
• If the operator is pressed against the controls would they be able to stop and reverse the direction of travel to release themselves?

In addition, contractors are urged to seek advice from manufacturers or suppliers, if they feel further physical measures are needed to control any risk.

For telehandlers, contractors need to note:

• Are you confident that the pedestrian/traffic route segregation arrangements will keep pedestrians out of the vicinity of vehicle movements?
• Is the transport routes and tasks designed to eliminate reversing, and identified where dangers remain when trucks are travelling, manoeuvring and regularly starting up from stationary positions?
• Is the right mobile plant being used? Do you know enough about what the driver can and cannot see when it is in operation?
• Have sites and visitors been instructed or trained in site rules associated with vehicle movements and do they know how to protect themselves if it is necessary for them to work in the vicinity of telehandlers.

Additional measures include improving site safety through improvements in traffic routes and pedestrian segregation. As well as changing operating parameters such as delivery and loading points and providing extra visibility aids such as CCTV or mirrors on the telehandler. Hopefully this advice will be followed by industry and in future reduce the number of deaths on site.