Chris This has been the expectation since at least the late 1980s. Not necessarily tasked with standing there all the time. Might have other duties in the vicinity but with the ability to operate emergency controls which are routinely fitted at ground level to enable the platform to be lowered in any emergency scenario. P

I can see some scenarios where having a spare individual in the vicinty of the works could be a problem. On our site there are plenty of supervisory staff at hand, but not necessarilly MEWP trained. Most of the MEWP work is carried out by contractors, whom it must be said, are more interested in the cost of the work than they are safety matters. One only has to check their method statements to learn that! One of the difficulties with h&s guidance, whether HSE or other bodies, is that the material is written in the comfort of an office and usually 'gold-plated'. In the real world the pressure of getting the 'job done' with all the restraints of time, money and effort often does not afford all the nicety associated with guidance.