Have any of you heard of the recent training input stating that fall arrestors do not need to be worn in scissor lifts or MEWPs’. Reason being given is that if it topples over the person attached to the equipment via his fall protection is more likely to be crushed than one who is not attached.

It doesn't add up in a number of ways including the fact that there is at least as much chance of injury or worse when falling from a toppling MEWP.

Your opinions would be appreciated.

Hi,
Not aware of any changes in guidance : IPAF and HSE links should clarify:

http://www.ipaf.org/file.../documents/en/H10505.pdf

http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/mewps.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc614.pdf

Regards
Steve

Coy
dont use fall arrest, use fall prevention ie restrain the operator so that he cannot fall out, arrestors are a last resort.

I have not seen any authorititive evidence suggesting that fall restraint worn by MEWP operators increases the likelyhood of serious injury in the event of an overturn.

It is probably gossip opinions of the operators as they do not like the rule

I can recall an incident several years ago on the construction of Sheffield Law Courts where 2 people were thrown out of a MEWP killing one. The cherry picker operator tried lowering the MEWP when it snagged on a window ledge. Instead of backing off he tried to force the basket past the ledge causing the wheels nearest the walls to lift off the floor. As the basket slipped past the ledge the wheels banged to the ground causing sufficient recoil in the cherry picker arm to toss the 2 men out of the basket.

The fall restraint rule would have prevented this.

Steve

Ian
With scissor lifts I would accept fall arrest is not much use

Fall arrest does not prevent a fall from height, it stops you hitting the floor but you will probably still be injured, and left dangling in a life threatening situation.

Also I would not ask for fall restraint harnessess and lanyards in MOST scissor lifts "even when travelling" But we must assess each MEWP as there are a wide variation of design and with some I may propose that restraint should be worn when travelling.

With regard to edge protection this is provided on cherry pickers as well as scissor lifts
regards
Steve

First port of call read manufacturers instructions see what they recommend. Other issue most operatives in cherry pickers do not use the provided hook attachment point, usually they are connected to the top rail using fall arrest equipment. Industry in general do not know the difference between fall arrest and fall restraint.

There's a BS Code of Practice covering this for MEWP, unfortunately I don't have a reference to hand.
The jist of the CoP:

Restraint only mandatory where there is a risk of collision. ( I would include travelling in a scissor lift within that risk).
When working over water in a MEWP, lifejacket to be substituted for restraint.
The CoP also describes the circumstances when it is permissible to climb out from the basket of the MEWP.

db: I trust the suggestion that a combined harness/lifejacket has been invented was intended in jest.

Thank you Garfield,

You know it with the 150 - re: the 275 it will be back to spray hood/light/whistle posture in water etc.etc.

Have you experience of these? and how are they inspected under SOLAS 74/Puwer at sea or both and the periodicity?

Yours aye

Db