New ANSI Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP) Goes Into Effect March 1, 2020

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January 22, 2020

Resource: Blog Industry: Industrial
Tags: Vector EHS Management

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There were some delays, as their often are with new standards, but the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has created three new standards for mobile elevating work platforms, or MEWPs, that go into effect March 1, 2020. If the phrase mobile elevating work platforms and the acronym MEWP don't ring a bell, it's what you might think of as an aerial work platform.

The new standards are A92.20, Design, Calculations, Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs); A92.22, Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs); and A92.24, Training Requirements for the Use, Operation, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). You can get copies of the new standards from the ACS A92 Secretariat's webpage.

To keep you up-to-date, safe, and compliant, we've accordingly created two new MEWP-related online courses for our Working at Heights training library:

Get yourself a copy of those new standards and read on below to learn more about the new MEWP standards and see some samples from our new MEWP safety online courses.

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An Overview of the Three New ANSI MEWP Standards

Here's a brief overview of each of the three new MEWP standards from ANSI.

A92.20, Design, Calculations, Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)

Here's how ANSI/ISAIA describes this new standard:

"This Standard is intended to be used in conjunction BSR/SAIA A92.22, Safe Use of MEWPs and ANSI/SAIA A92.24-2018, Training Requirements for Operators of MEWPs. This American National Standard specifies safety requirements and preventive measures, and the means for their verification, for certain types and sizes of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) intended to position personnel, along with their necessary tools and materials, at work locations. It contains the structural design calculations and stability criteria, construction, safety examinations and tests that shall be applied before a MEWP is first put into service."

Additionally, the new standard establishes a requirement for a gated entrance to the work area; mandates that platform railings be at least 43 inches high (instead of the earlier 30 inch requirement); reduce lift and load speeds for some equipment; and requires that MEWP operated in rough terrain use solid or foam-filled tires.

A92.22, Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)

Here's how ANSI/ISAIA describes this new standard:

"This American National Standard specifies requirements for application, inspection, training, maintenance, repair and safe operation of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (hereafter known as MEWPs).
It applies to all types and sizes of MEWPs as specified in ANSI/SAIA A92.20 (design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods) that are intended to position personnel, along with their necessary tools and materials, at work locations."

This standard includes a large section dealing with maintenance, inspection, and repair of MEWPs. In addition, one of the key aspects of this new MEWP standard is that it requires owners as well as companies renting MEWPs to create a site safety and risk assessment plan and share that plan with all people at the jobsite. The risk assessment plan must include:

  • Identifying the task to be performed
  • Selecting an appropriate MEWP
  • A risk assessment
  • Identifying control measures
  • Identifying safe work procedures
  • Creating a rescue from heights plan
  • Communication requirements

This plan must be written and the company must include the plan in their training manual.

A92.24, Training Requirements for the Use, Operation, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)

Here's how ANSI/ISAIA describes this new standard:

"This standard provides methods and guidelines to prepare MEWP training materials, defines administrative criteria, and delivers elements required for proper training and familiarization.

It applies to all types and sizes of MEWPs defined in ANSI/SAIA A92.20 (design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods) that are intended to position personnel, along with their necessary tools and materials, at work locations."

This MEWP standard includes a host of safety training related requirements, including requirements for:

  • MEWP Operators
  • Occupants inside a MEWP
  • Supervisors of MEWP work

Operators are now required to read the operating manual; know what the equipment can and can't do; and conduct a walk-around inspection of the MEWP.

An "occupant" is anyone who is on a platform who is not an operator. Occupations are required by the standard to learn about fall protection systems and what to do if the MEWP operator can no longer run the MEWP.

Speaking of fall prevention training, you might be interested in our free downloadable Fall Protection & Prevention Toolbox Talk Checklist.

Supervisors who oversee MEWP are required to be trained, too, including knowing how to pick the right lift for each job and understanding the hazards associated with each type of MEWP.

A Few Samples from Our New Online MEWP Safety Training Courses

We thought you might be interested in seeing some short samples from our new MEWP online safety training courses. You can also click the links below to learn much more about each course.

Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) Safety

Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) Safety for Supervisors

Let us know if you've got any additional MEWP safety questions, feel free to check out the other titles in our Working at Heights training library, and don't forget to download our guide for better fall prevention toolbox talks, below.

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