Powered Access Fatalities Drop 26 Percent in 2024, IPAF Accident Report Shows
IPAF’s Global Safety Report 2025 reveals a notable decrease in fatalities involving powered access equipment, despite only a slight reduction in overall reported incidents.
The findings are based on comprehensive analysis of incidents submitted through its global Accident Reporting Portal.
Launched during a live webinar on July 22, 2025, the IPAF Global Safety Report 2025 examines accident data from 2015 to 2024, with a focus on the most recent year-on-year trends. By analysing anonymized global data, IPAF aims to equip the industry with actionable insights to reduce accidents and improve safety performance across all powered access operations.
This year’s report shows that in 2024, there were 15-percent fewer fatal and major incidents reported, with 170 incident reports made compared to 201 reports in 2023.
There were 100 fatalities reported, down from 135 in 2023 – marking a 26-percent decrease. A total of 211 people were involved in incidents (12-percent less than in 2023), and reports came from 26 countries (the same as in 2024).
In terms of incidents resulting in deaths or major injury, overturns were the top cause of accidents in 2024, followed by entrapment and falls from the platform. Most incidents occurred on construction sites (37 percent), followed by the arboriculture (13 percent) and electrical sectors (13 percent).
Other key statistics from the report include:
• A 75-percent increase in entrapment reports and 62-percent increase in entrapment fatalities from 2023 to 2024.
• A 56-percent reduction in fatalities from overturns.
• A 50-percent decrease in incident reports of people being hit by a falling object but a 75-percent increase in fatalities.
“The 26-percent reduction in fatalities is a positive step forward, but we must remain focused on the bigger picture,” said Brian Parker, head of safety & technical at IPAF.
“Every incident report reminds us that there is still work to do. While it’s encouraging to see improvements, especially in overturn-related fatalities, the sharp rise in entrapment fatalities is a clear signal that we must continue driving education, vigilance and adherence to safe working practices across all sectors. This report equips us with the critical insights needed to target our safety efforts where they are most needed.”
Alana Paterson, chair of the IPAF International Safety Committee and head of health, safety & environment at Taylor Woodrow, said: “Powered access continues to be one of the safest and most efficient methods for working at height. However, we still see serious, and at times, tragic incidents around the world. These serve as a stark reminder of why the work of IPAF and its committees is so vital. The data collected through the
IPAF accident reporting portal not only informs this report but also guides the focus of our collective efforts, whether that’s developing guidance documents, toolbox talks, technical innovations, hire standards, or more.
“I encourage everyone working in this sector to report any accidents involving powered access. Accurate reporting helps ensure the data reflects reality and supports better safety for all.”
To view the full Global Safety Report 2025, visit www.ipaf.org/accident. The launch webinar is available to watch via IPAF’s YouTube channel as well: @ipaforg
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.