IPAF Presents Awards and Leads Safety Dialogue at Orlando Conference
Industry leaders from across North America’s powered access sector gathered at IPAF’s Working at Height Conference & Awards 2026, October 28–29, to strengthen their commitment to safer working at height through stronger leadership, industry collaboration and practical innovation.
Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando, the event brought together 120 professionals from construction, equipment rental, manufacturing, technology and safety management to explore how data-driven insights, workforce engagement and consistent safe-use practices can translate into safer jobsites.
A central theme throughout the conference was the need to move beyond compliance and make safety a shared responsibility across every level of an organization.
“It was fantastic to bring together so many people from across the powered access industry in North America to share experiences, challenge thinking and explore how we can continue to improve safety,” said Peter Douglas, IPAF CEO. “The discussions throughout the conference highlighted that, while technology, equipment and standards are important, it is ultimately people, leadership and a shared commitment to doing things safely that make the difference.
“This event is the third of its kind in North America, giving us the opportunity to learn from one another, build stronger industry relationships and take away ideas that can make a real difference in the workplace. Congratulations to all our award winners and finalists, whose achievements demonstrate the innovation, dedication and commitment that continue to move our industry forward.”
Turning safety policies into everyday practice
Drew Gaskins, safety director at Gilbane Building Co., opened up important discussions around hazard recognition and decision-making through his presentation on Recognize, Respond and Respect. Drawing on his construction experience, he explored how respect for people, equipment and the risks associated with working at height can contribute to safer outcomes.
Gaskins said most incidents begin with small deviations, changing conditions, control failures, and risk normalization. Changing conditions can be caused by wind, rain, congestion in the environment, changes in ground stability, utility proximity and load changes. Awareness and attention to all of these changes can make a difference between an incident and adjusting to changing conditions to prevent an unsafe situation.
Nicole McGregor, managing principal at Ducker Carlisle, reported on 2026 MEWP Rental Market Trends and said MEWP rentals brought in $15.8 million in revenue in 2025, a 4-percent increase from 2024. McGregor said 874,800 units were active in 2025, a 2 percent increase compared to 2024 as fleet sizes expanded.
She added that while growth was positive from 2024 to 2025, it would be even better in 2026. From 2024 to 2025, rental companies were still cautious, she said, but there is more confidence in 2026, especially in the area of data center construction. She said that while other manufacturing segments have been down in 2026, data center construction is booming.
Steve Hawkins, chief operating officer at FDR Safety LLC, challenged delegates to consider how organizations can move from a 'have to' safety culture to a 'want to' culture, encouraging individuals to take greater ownership of safe working practices.
Cris Shell and Jason Brewer of AT&T examined how to translate company policy into a consistent MEWP safety program, highlighting the importance of clear expectations and shared responsibilities among managers, supervisors, operators and trainers.
Technology and data supporting safer operations
The role of digital technology and connected equipment featured prominently, with presentations exploring how businesses can use data to identify risks earlier and make more informed safety decisions.
Federico Rio, senior vice president of product & pricing at Trackunit, discussed how equipment usage, access information and pre-use checks can help turn safety requirements into practical, everyday behaviours.
David Swan of Geotab explored the potential of fleet data and predictive safety models to identify emerging risks, drawing on real-world case studies to demonstrate how better visibility and accountability can support safer operations.
These discussions reinforced the importance of using industry data to guide proactive safety improvements. IPAF’s Global Safety Report 2026 identifies electrical hazards as the leading reported cause of fatal and major incidents involving powered access in North America in 2025, underscoring the need for stronger hazard awareness, effective risk assessment and consistent safe-use practices.
Ben Taft, Vice president of sales, North America, at Palazzani, explored the expanding role of atrium and spider lifts across applications including indoor maintenance and arboriculture. Tony Groat, North America regional manager for IPAF, provided updates on developments across ANSI/SAIA A92, CSA B354 and ISO standards.
Randy Marzicola, IPAF’s vice president, North America, said: “Working at Height Conference & Awards demonstrates the power of bringing our industry together around a shared commitment to safety. Our opportunity now is to turn these insights into action by strengthening partnerships, expanding awareness and accelerating the adoption of safer working practices across North America. The engagement and leadership demonstrated in Orlando provide a strong foundation for the work ahead.”
Collaboration and industry recognition
IPAF representatives Peter Douglas, Giles Councell and Don Satterfield shared updates on the federation's global activities, plans for the North American Regional Council and ongoing safety campaign initiatives.
The conference also reinforced IPAF North America’s commitment to expanding industry engagement, strengthening partnerships and accelerating the adoption of safer MEWP working practices. Through its North America Regional Council, IPAF is working with manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and safety professionals to translate industry insights, safety data and standards into practical action across jobsites.
Their presentation reinforced the importance of industry collaboration, shared knowledge and consistent safety practices across different markets.
IPAF CEO Peter Douglas closed the conference by reflecting on the day's discussions and the importance of continued collaboration in strengthening safety across the powered access industry.
The event concluded with the Working at Height Awards 2026, celebrating the companies, products and individuals making a positive contribution to safety, innovation and leadership.
Award winners
DICA received the Safety Innovation – OEM/Supplier award for its LevelRight Adjustable Outrigger Pads. National Lift Truck was recognized in the Safety and Culture Leadership Excellence – Rental Industry category.
Skyjack collected two awards, winning Technology Innovation for SKYPROTECT and SKYPROTECT+, and New Product Award – Boom Lifts for its SJ45 AJN and SJ45 ARJN battery-powered electric slab booms.
Haulotte won the New Product Award – Scissor Lifts for its HS6395 E PRO.
Palazzani received the New Product Award – Atrium/Compact Crawlers for its XTJ 170+ ECO.
Bart Krzysztofek of Skyjack was named IPAF Person of the Year in recognition of his contribution to standards development, best-practice guidance, education and the IPAF North America Regional Council.
Mastclimber LLC received the IPAF North America Member of the Year award for its longstanding support of IPAF activities and commitment to training and industry collaboration.
The awards provided an opportunity to recognize the achievements of those helping to raise standards and drive progress across the powered access sector.
Building on the momentum of Working at Height 2026, IPAF North America will continue working with industry partners to advance safety awareness, strengthen training and standards adoption, and promote greater engagement among equipment manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and end users. The conference reinforced a shared priority: translating industry knowledge, innovation and collaboration into safer working practices across North America.
For further information:
Visit the Working at Height Conference & Awards website to find out more about the event and its program.
Read the full Working at Height Awards 2026 winners announcement.
Explore IPAF’s Global Safety Report 2026 and related safety resources at 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.
