IPAF Publishes Guidelines for AWPs in Tree Care

Statistics from the International Powered Access Federation’s accident reporting project show that approximately one in five of all aerial-related fatalities involve tree-care workers.

Michael Roth

July 5, 2016

2 min read

One in five AWPrelated deaths involve treecare workers Guidelines are available from IPAF on working safely at height in tree care — One in five AWP-related deaths involve tree-care workers. Guidelines are available from IPAF on working safely at height in tree care.

Statistics from the International Powered Access Federation’s accident reporting project show that approximately one in five of all aerial-related fatalities involve tree-care workers. Aerial work platforms, also known as mobile elevating work platforms, are a popular tool in the arboriculture and tree-care industry. In response to this concern, IPAF has published a safety tips guideline for the use of AWPs in tree-cutting to ensure that operators work safely at height.

AWPs are one of the safest means for temporary work at height, provided that a risk assessment is done, managers and operators are properly qualified, trained and familiarized, equipment is inspected and maintained, and safe use procedures are followed, including having a rescue plan.

IPAF’s latest technical guidance analyses some fatal accident reports, draws out the lessons learned, and provides safety tips for trained operators before, during and after tree-care work.

“Whether you are a professional tree worker or a hobby gardener, if you are using a MEWP to work at height, make sure that you complete formal recognized operator training for the correct use of this specialist equipment,” said IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman.

IPAF’s guidance for the tree-care industry is available in several languages and can be downloaded from the Publications Technical Guidance section of www.ipaf.org.

About the Author

Michael Roth

Editor

Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.