ANSI Releases New Mobile Elevating Work Platforms Standards

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Last year, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) updated their aerial lift standard, starting with renaming it Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP). This has been in the works since 2018 and is designed to align training, certifications, and equipment used on a more universal standard. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), roughly 26 people die from MEWP each year. This prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to increase training requirements to keep accidents to a minimum. Obviously, MEWP are essential for completing a wide variety of construction jobs. So, what should you, as a business owner, be doing to ensure your employees are safe and in compliance when OSHA comes by your jobsites?

MEWP are prone to tipping over on uneven ground and in inclement weather conditions, if equipment is extended out. The most common cause of the MEWP tipping over is driving it over uneven surfaces. Understandably, many contractors rush to complete projects but moving extended lifts can be the easiest way to have a serious accident. Alternatively, taking proper time to lower a lift before moving it leads to fewer serious accidents.

Identifying exposures and objects that conflict with a lift’s surroundings is also of great concern for lift operators. A very common occurrence involves employees being pinned between the lift and an object. It is easy to become fixated on either the ground or the direction the lift is moving and ”miss” objects that could be hazardous as you are raising and lowering the lift. Allowing for time to plan ahead and move the machinery safely is immensely important.

Many of these new requirements are focused on teaching proper equipment use and creating an awareness of the changes to new equipment in the marketplace. Inherently, these machines are dangerous but necessary. So, maintaining a respect for them and understanding how to properly use them is vital. Lift use trainings, techniques, and protocol are available through our Risk Management Center and are compliant with the new ANSI/SAIA A92.20, A92.22, and A92.24 standards that were just released, last year.

Please reach out to me at ccraig@ranchomesa.com or call at 619-937-0164 for more information, or for help assigning the trainings.

Cause of Concerns for Contractors: Implementation of Aerial Lift Standards

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Beginning December 2019, standards for using and renting aerial lifts will drastically change, globally. As a result, contractors are concerned they will not be prepared for the changes which could lead to loss of production and fines.

Since the use of aerial lifts is becoming more frequent, the new standards were approved by the American National Standards Institution (ANSI) in an effort to align the United States and the rest of the world with having globally accepted safety standards. Canada published its standards last May and the United States is following suite with the release of the ANSI A92 .20 (equipment responsibilities), .22 (safe use), .24 (training). Further details can be found in Scaffold & Access Industry Association’s (SAIA) copy of the standards.

Moving forward, “Aerial Work Platforms” (AWP) will be referred to as “Mobile Elevating Work Platforms” (MEWP). The new standards are meant to address ongoing problems with:

• Effect of Wind on a Load

  • MEWP’s may be rated one of two ways; for interior use only or for exterior use, but those will have a maxim height limitation without consideration to the length the arm can be extended.

• Platform Capacity

  • The new equipment will automatically shut off if it exceeds the specified weight limit. Thus, in some cases, it may be necessary to use two lifts to do a job safely.

• Chassis Tilt  

  • Understanding the terrain where the lift will be working will be vital. Most equipment has been rated for firm or level ground, but new machinery will also take into account the tilt of the machine and will shut off if it is unsafe.  

Manufacturers are already taking heed and changing their product designs to accommodate the new requirements. Aside from the changes to the machinery, contractors will need to evaluate who is trained to operate the MEWPs. 

• Operators will need to be trained in how to use the machinery and walk their job sites to look for problems before using the lift.

• Supervisors must know how the machine works, its functionality, how much it weighs and how much weight it can handle, so that they are not relaying poor information to the operator.

• Additionally an occupant riding in an aerial lift (i.e., MEWP) must have a general understanding of how the machine works so if there is a problem they can safely get back down.

Previously, operators were only required to know how high the lift being used would need to go. As of December 2019, the operator will also need to know the terrain where the aerial lift will be operated, the load weight, and the lift’s reach under load for the job. When renting equipment it is likely the rental industry will issue a supplemental application to pre-qualify each job.

Machines built before the new standards will be grandfathered in and will not have to be updated. However, this could cause issues for contractors if they work on job sites that require the most current safety specifications. This could limit the use of older machinery.

While these standards will not take effect until December of this year, there is still a lot to be learned and will require proactive planning by all contractors to insure compliance. There are still many unanswered questions including exactly how involved OSHA will be in enforcing these new rules. Rancho Mesa will be providing updates regularly to assist you through these changes. 

For additional information, please contact Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. at (619) 438-6900.