The Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) industry in New Zealand is a safe and thriving industry. Given that working at height is considered high risk, effective control measures should be adopted to remove and reduce the risk of falling. A MEWP is a great control method to reduce this risk when working at height.
With thousands of people operating, maintaining and inspecting over 15,000 MEWPs annually, we need to ensure we have the best possible guidance, training, maintenance and inspection available to keep everyone safe.
We currently lack detailed insight into the issues and potential harm associated with MEWP's. This absence of evidence can lead to misdirection, resulting in either overly burdensome compliance requirements or insufficient support and training. Without the right balance, we risk not providing enough resources to keep both people and equipment safe.
To enhance safety and sustainability within the industry, it's essential to understand and learn from incidents and issues. The EWPA's Incident Reporting Portal offers a platform for voluntary, anonymous reporting of MEWP-related incidents or concerns. This data will be used to improve industry practices, training and guidance. It will not be used to impose discipline or penalties.
We aim to use this data to provide a clearer picture of MEWP safety and advance our collective knowledge.