Tackling Incident Rates and to report any unsafe conditions immediately.
Culture of Preparedness
IPAF’ s guidance doesn’ t stop at identifying risks, it also offers structured steps for emergency planning and communication. For example, each site should have a documented rescue plan that is understood, rehearsed and tested by all personnel. Ground rescue teams must be familiar with the MEWP’ s emergency and auxiliary lowering controls and demonstrate their proper use before work begins.
Equally vital is the need for reliable communication systems between operators and ground rescue teams. Testing communication equipment before every shift helps ensure that, in the event of an incident, rescue efforts can be coordinated swiftly and effectively.
Accountability
In the event of a serious roadway incident involving a MEWP, IPAF advised, multiple agencies may become involved in the investigation. The guidance clarifies jurisdictional boundaries to help contractors understand how incidents are managed. For example:
• The Department of Transportation( DOT) and local police typically investigate roadway accidents as traffic incidents.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration( OSHA) investigates the same events from a workplace safety perspective, focusing on compliance with occupational safety standards.
By outlining these distinctions, IPAF aims to ensure contractors and employers are better prepared for potential investigations and fully aware of their legal and safety responsibilities.
Planning for Safety The IPAF campaign promotes a
To ensure a coordinated approach to MEWP safety, a new IPAF campaign called How to Stay Safe on or Near Roadways is designed as a practical guide for contractors, employers and operators. central truth, that inadequate planning is the root cause of most accidents. Their framework for safe planning includes several non-negotiable steps for those working on or near roadways:
1. Conduct thorough site visits to identify all hazards.
2. Perform Job Safety Analysis or OSHA Job Hazard Analysis assessments that integrate DOT Manual on Traffic Control Devices traffic control measures. 3. Select the most appropriate MEWP for the task and environment.
4. Establish and maintain exclusion zones that protect both equipment and workers from moving vehicles.
5. Document and rehearse emergency rescue plans. 6. Test communication systems before and during operations.
By following these principles, IPAF pointed out, contractors can help ensure that MEWPs remain among the safest tools for elevated work, even in the most complex jobsite environments.
Strengthening Reporting IPAF also strongly encourages all contractors and MEWP users to report accidents and near misses through their confidential reporting portal at www. ipafaccidentreporting. org.
This data is essential in helping IPAF and the broader industry identify trends, understand the root causes of incidents and develop future safety guidance and campaigns, Groat noted.“ Every report, no matter how small, helps us learn more and prevent future tragedies,” he added.
Groat also emphasized that current statistics likely underrepresent the true number of roadway-related incidents. Increased participation in reporting, he added, will lead to more accurate data and, ultimately, safer work environments across North America.
Unified Effort As roadway environments grow busier and work zones more complex, the stakes for safety have never been higher. IPAF’ s campaign is a timely reminder that vigilance, planning and teamwork are essential in preventing tragedies.
“ This isn’ t just about compliance, it’ s about protecting people,” Groat said.“ By promoting consistent planning, proper exclusion zones and adherence to traffic control standards, and when everyone involved in MEWP operations understands their role and takes responsibility for safety, we can dramatically reduce the number of incidents and save lives.”
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