IPAF’s Aerial Safety Conference in Nashville Covers Critical Safety Issues, Awards Contributors
The recent aerial safety conference in Nashville, Tenn., put on by the International Powered Access Federation North America and the KHL Group gave out awards for achievement and attention to safety in the aerial industry and presented a series of speakers on various safety-related topics.
After IPAF CEO and managing director Peter Douglas spoke about the importance of safety in the aerial equipment industry, Sunstate Equipment president Norty Turner talked about “Transforming a Legacy Culture.” Talking about developing a culture of accountability, Turner said, “When people are given trust, they become more trustworthy.”
Nicole McGregor, managing principle at Ducker Carlisle, talked about “Navigating the 2025 Work at Height Rental Market.” Steve Hawkins, chief operating officer, FDR Safety, spoke about “Transforming the safety mindset: from ‘have to’ to ‘want to’”.
Chastity Williams-Lasley, early career development manager, JCB, addressed “Recruitment challenges and solutions in the construction sector.” Pat Schmetzer, director of product training & risk management” for MEC Aerial Work Platforms talked about “Equipment Innovation and Evolution in MEWPs.”
Matt Skipworth, vice president, global service & digital solutions, Genie, talked about IT developments and challenges in “AI + XR: Reimagining Working at Height.” Terry Allen, CEO of Serious Industrial Motion Simulators, continued the technology theme with “Training for Tomorrow, Today.”
A Round Table Panel, including TJ Lyons, owner and founder of Lyonetics Consulting, Peter Dagsvik, director of administration/project manager at Atlantic Building Restoration and IPAF’s Tony Groat discussed working at height: safety and productivity. Brian Parker, head of safety and technical, IPAF, spoke about “Best Practices for Work at Height Rescues,” as well as a new IPAF campaign on “How to Stay Safe On or Near Roadways.”
And Luke Sylvia, regional sales manager, MIPS, talked about “New Technologies in Safety Headwear for Construction.”
Awards
A variety of awards were presented to companies and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the aerial industry.
The winners were:
· Working at Height Safety Innovation – OEM/Supplier – Haulotte – MyCompanion
· Safety Culture and Leadership Excellence – Rental – SOS Equipment
· Technology innovation award – Genie – Serial Hub QR Code system
· New Product Award – Scissor Lifts – MEC – 2032SEAC
· New Product Award – Boom Lifts – Genie - S-85 XC FE hybrid and S-85 XC E
· New Product Award - - Atrium lift/compact crawler - Palazzani - TZJ 530 and TZJ 590 spider lifts
· IPAF North America Member Company of the Year – National Lift Truck
· IPAF/ALH Person of the Year - Brian Clark, Sunbelt Rentals, Director Product Support and IPAF’s North America Regional Council Chair
· Distinguished Service Award – Pat Witte
· Lifetime Achievement Award – the late Kevin O’Shea
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.