54
ACCESS, LIFT & HANDLERS
MARCH 2014
IPAF NEWS
and the UK, two fatalities each
in Belgium, Canada, France and
the Netherlands, and one each
in Armenia, Australia, Ireland,
Malaysia, Norway and in the
Middle East.
IPAF’s accident reporting project
was launched in January 2012 and
has filled a gap where there was
previously no single mechanism
for reporting and analyzing serious
accidents involving AWPs and no
definitive data on the number and
main causes of fatal accidents.
In the first year of the project,
32 fatalities worldwide involving
AWPs were reported.
IPAF technical officer Chris
Wraith stressed that the accident
project is still in an early stage
and cautioned against direct
comparisons in its second year.
“It will be at least 2016-2017
before any realistic year-on-year
comparison on the frequency of
accidents can be of value,” he
said. “The comparative figures
presented are for information only
and do not in any way suggest an
increase in the number of AWP-
contribute to it,” said IPAF CEO
Tim Whiteman. “Over time,
this project will capture more
comprehensive data and allow us
to draw more useful comparisons
and conclusions. I would
encourage anyone who is aware
of an AWP-related fatality in their
country to report it to the IPAF
website. There is a mechanism to
make anonymous reports should
people wish to do so.”
IPAF’s accident reporting project
is creating a comprehensive
record of known accidents. Data
gathered enables IPAF to analyze
and look for common trends,
and propose possible actions
to further improve and promote
the safe use of powered access
worldwide. Data collected is kept
confidential and used solely for the
purposes of analysis and making
recommendations to improve
safety.
The data presented is based
on accidents reported directly
to IPAF, information obtained by
IPAF staff worldwide and through
information collated from various
news media. The accuracy of
the data cannot be guaranteed,
but where appropriate, action is
taken to verify the facts and the
data is amended should relevant
information become available.
IPAF rental company members
in the UK have voluntarily
committed to report any known
AWP accidents involving their staff
via the IPAF accident database.
More accident data through
better reporting
related fatalities from 2012 to
2013. They are more an indication
that the awareness and success
of the project is growing. Powered
access is probably the safest way
of performing temporary work at
height. The industry is becoming
more aware and reporting
accidents, rather than having more
accidents.”
“As awareness of this ground-
breaking project grows worldwide,
so does the number of countries,
companies and individuals who
The powered access industry
is reporting more accidents
through IPAF’s voluntary program.
This reveals that there were
53 fatalities worldwide in 2013
involving aerial work platforms
(AWPs), according to preliminary
results from IPAF’s accident
database.
The main causes of these
fatalities were: overturn (16), fall
from height (13), entrapment (10),
electrocution (7), impact with AWP
(4) and falling object (2). In one
case, the cause of the fatality was
not known.
Almost half of the number
of reported fatalities (26 or 49
percent) involved mobile booms
(3b). Fourteen fatalities (26
percent) involved mobile verticals
(3a) and 11 (21 percent) involved
static booms (1b). In two cases
(4 percent), the type of machine
involved was not known.
Thirty (57 percent) of the
fatalities occurred in the U.S.,
home of 54 percent of the world’s
rental fleet. Three fatalities each
were reported in Germany, Spain
Speakers confirmed for
prestigious IPAF Summit
The IPAF Summit that will be held
on April 3 in Windsor near London
in the UK will see top speakers
address topics ranging from how
best practice in the use of powered
access equipment can be applied
on job sites, to accident statistics
in the access industry and how
this compares across other sectors
such as aviation.
Confirmed speakers include Bill
Plummer, Executive Vice-President
and Chief Financial Officer with
United Rentals. Presenting together
with Fred Bratman, Head of
Investor Relations, Bill Plummer
will review how the access and
rental industries can best connect
with investors and bankers.
Also speaking are Dave Smith,
chair of the UK Contractors
Group (UKCG) Health & Safety
Leadership Group and COO of
Wates Construction, one of the
UK’s largest contractors, and David
Miller, Deputy Chief Inspector of Air
Accidents at the UK’s Air Accident
Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The UKCG plays an active role in
promoting the safe use of AWPs
and Dave Smith will report on how
contractors work to keep AWP use
safe and what they expect of their
suppliers. David Miller will explain
how the AAIB investigates air
accidents and compiles accident
statistics.
Other speakers will be looking
at what conclusions can be
drawn from IPAF’s industry
accident reporting project, how
to investigate accidents, and how
best practice can be translated into
reality on the modern job site.
Attendance at the IPAF Summit is
free of charge. Register in advance
at
The IPAF Summit is being held
at the Beaumont Estate Hotel in
Windsor, on the same day as the
International Awards for Powered
Access (IAPAs) dinner and awards
ceremony, jointly organized by
Access International
,
Access, Lift &
Handlers
and IPAF.
■
Full event details are at:
The main causes of fatalities and the machine type involved
