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MARCH 2014
ACCESS, LIFT & HANDLERS
IPAF USA
225 Placid Drive,
Schenectady, NY 12303
Tel: (518) 280-2486
Fax: (518) 689-6800
IPAF USA MEMBERSHIP OFFICE
800 Roosevelt Road, Suite C-312
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Tel : (630) 942-6583
IPAF WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Moss End Business Village,
Crooklands, Cumbria LA7 7NU, UK
Tel: +44 (0)15395 66700
Fax : +44 (0)15395 66084
IPAF NEWS
Lift Safety Zone at
CONEXPO: Keep safe
when working near
power lines
IPAF staff will be
on hand to answer
questions about the
operator eLearning
module and the AWPs
for Managers training
course, and to provide
a full range of technical
guidance, videos, stickers, posters
and educational tools.
IPAF is also holding a series
of meetings during CONEXPO-
CON/AGG, including the IPAF
Manufacturers’ Technical
Committee Meeting on March 7,
2014 at 10am. Watch for details at
Operators must always
keep a minimum safe
distance between
overhead power lines
and the closest point
of the AWP when fully
extended.
Almost half a million valid
PAL Cards now worldwide
A total of 127,365 people were trained by IPAF-approved training centers
in 2013. This is an increase of 12.8 percent over the 112,887 people
trained in 2012. Training available from IPAF-approved centers includes
operator courses for which a PAL Card (Powered Access License) is
issued, and harness and management courses for which a certificate is
issued.
IPAF issued a record 121,744 PAL Cards worldwide through its
approved training centers in 2013, an increase of 12.7 percent over the
108,065 PAL Cards issued in 2012.
A valid PAL Card is proof that the cardholder has been trained to
operate powered access equipment safely and effectively. PAL Cards can
be issued in standard or Smart PAL Card (machine-readable) versions.
They are valid for five years and can be
verified online at
IPAF’s PAL
Card operator training program is certified
by TÜV as conforming to ISO 18878. At
the end of 2013, IPAF had 1,037 members
and 615 training centers worldwide.
“IPAF members and training centers
are to be congratulated for continuing
the success of these industry-led
voluntary training programs and
safety initiatives,” said IPAF CEO Tim
Whiteman. “We anticipate that we
will hit the mark of half a million valid
PAL Cards sometime this year. Projects
recently launched, such as the global rollout
of management courses, the introduction
of PAL+ advanced operator training and the
eLearning module, promise exciting times for IPAF
and the industry.”
ANSI reaffirms current
AWP A92 standards
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) ASC A92 main
committee has approved in January the reaffirmation of the current
standards concerning aerial work platforms:
■
A92.3 Manually Propelled Elevating Aerial Platforms
■
A92.5 Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms
■
A92.6 Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms
In addition, the main committee voted to have the existing 2006
Manual of Responsibilities to remain valid as there are no changes to the
standards.
The reaffirmation allows the current standards to remain active while
ASC A92 committees continue to develop new replacement standards
covering the design (A92.20), safe use (A92.22) and training (A92.24) for
equipment. These areas are currently covered by the existing standards.
IPAF events at CONEXPO-CON/AGG:
■
March 5, 12pm:
IPAF North American Regional Council Meeting
(members only)
■
March 5, 3pm:
IPAF Press Conference
(for journalists)
■
March 5, 4pm:
IPAF Booth Reception
■
March 7, 10am:
IPAF Manufacturers’ Technical Committee Meeting
(members only)
If you are visiting the CONEXPO-
CON/AGG show in Las Vegas this
March, don’t miss IPAF’s dynamic
display at the Lift Safety Zone in
the Gold Lot #1817.
The live demo will promote the
safe and effective use of aerial
work platforms (AWPs) when
carrying out temporary work
at height near to power lines.
This draws on data from IPAF’s
accident reporting project which
indicates that electrocutions
are the single largest cause of
fatalities to AWP operators in the
US.
IPAF is sharing the 8,000
square feet Lift Safety Zone with
the National Commission for the
Certification of Crane Operators
(NCCCO). Experts from both
organizations will be present to
provide advice on the safe use of
AWPs and cranes, with the help of
live machine demonstrations.
