MEWP Course: Mobile Elevated Work Platforms

Mobile Elevated Work Platforms — scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and boom lifts — are essential equipment for electricians working at height. They provide safe, productive access to positions that would otherwise require scaffolding, ladders, or other less efficient methods.

For electricians, MEWPs are used for cable tray and containment installation in warehouses, lighting installation and maintenance in commercial buildings, external cable routing and facade work, street lighting and column work, overhead line clearance and utility work, and fire alarm installation in large open spaces.

However, MEWPs are involved in approximately 10 fatal injuries per year in the UK. The most common causes are entrapment (the operator being crushed between the basket and an overhead structure), overturning (the machine tipping due to ground failure or overloading), and falls from the platform. Every one of these incidents is preventable with proper training and disciplined operation.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that MEWP operators are trained and competent. The industry-standard qualification is the IPAF PAL Card, which is required by most principal contractors and site operators. Without it, you will not be permitted to operate a MEWP on most UK construction sites.

MEWPs are classified into categories based on their type and whether they are mobile or static during operation. The categories relevant to electricians are:

The choice of machine depends on the working height required, whether horizontal reach is needed, the available ground space, indoor or outdoor operation, ground conditions, and the weight of tools and materials to be taken to the working position.

IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) is the trade association for the powered access industry. The IPAF PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) is the internationally recognised operator qualification for MEWPs.

The PAL Card is valid for 5 years and is endorsed for specific machine categories. Most electricians obtain endorsements for Category 3a (scissor lifts) and Category 3b (boom lifts) through a 2-day combined training course at an IPAF-approved training centre.

The training consists of theory and practical components. The theory covers legislation, hazard identification, pre-use checks, safe operating procedures, emergency procedures, and rescue planning. The practical component involves hands-on operation of the machines under instructor supervision, including manoeuvring, positioning, operating at height, and emergency lowering.

The Elec-Mate MEWP course covers all the theory knowledge you need for your IPAF assessment, but the practical training must be completed at an IPAF-approved centre. Use the IPAF website to find your nearest approved training centre.

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Pre-use checks must be completed before every shift by the operator. They take approximately 10 to 15 minutes and could save your life. Never skip them, even if you used the same machine yesterday.

If you find any defect during the pre-use check, take the machine out of service immediately. Report the defect to the hire company or machine owner and request a replacement. Never use a defective MEWP.

Safe MEWP operation requires continuous awareness of the machine, the environment, and the people around you. These procedures apply to every MEWP operation:

Positioning the machine. Drive the MEWP to the work position with the platform fully lowered. Set outriggers (if fitted) before raising the platform. Ensure the machine is on firm, level ground. Position the machine so you can reach the work without leaning over the guardrails or stretching beyond the platform boundary.

Operating at height. Raise the platform smoothly using the controls. Keep both feet on the platform floor at all times. Never stand on the guardrails, the mid-rail, or any object placed on the platform to gain extra height. Keep tools and materials secured so they cannot fall from the platform.

Wind limits. Most MEWPs have a maximum wind speed for safe operation — typically 28 mph (12.5 m/s) for boom lifts and 25 mph for scissor lifts. Monitor wind conditions continuously and lower the platform if wind speeds approach the limit. Wind speed can be significantly higher at the working height than at ground level.

Exclusion zones. Establish an exclusion zone beneath and around the MEWP to protect people from falling objects and machine movement. Use barriers, cones, or tape to demarcate the zone. A banksman may be needed when operating near traffic, pedestrians, or other plant.

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Several pieces of legislation govern MEWP use in the UK. Understanding these regulations helps you recognise your own duties and the responsibilities of your employer and the MEWP owner.

As an operator, your key responsibilities are: complete pre-use checks before every shift, operate within the machine rated capacity and environmental limits, wear appropriate PPE (harness in boom lifts, hard hat, hi-vis), report defects immediately, and never operate a machine you have not been trained on. Your employer is responsible for providing training, selecting suitable equipment, maintaining the machine, and developing a site-specific risk assessment and rescue plan.