Data shows overturn (10) and fall from height (9) are among the main causes of fatalities in the early half of 2013, followed by entrapment (5), electrocution (3) and impact with AWP(1). Compared with data from the same time last year, in which 17 fatalities were reported, there has been about a 65% increase in the number of fatalities reported for the first half of 2013. However, IPAF credits the increase to data collection by the accident reporting project, not necessarily an increase in incidents.
More data show that among these fatalities, 13 occurred in the USA, two in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and one in Armenia, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, Spain and the UAE. Of the known machine types used in the incidents, 13 fatalities involved boom lifts, 10 involved scissor lifts and three involved vehicle mounts.
In 2012, IPAF introduced the accident-reporting project as system to collect worldwide data on fatal accidents involving aerial work platforms (AWPs), hoping to improve the safe use of these platforms. IPAF urges manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users to report any known AWP-related accidents to aid the organization in further understanding common trends. Data collected from the project is kept confidential and used solely for the purposes of analysis and making recommendations to improve safety.
“The accuracy of the data relies upon those using MEWPs and other interested parties to report any known fatal accidents to IPAF at www.ipaf.org/accident or to an IPAF member of staff,” said IPAF technical officer Chris Wraith. “The comprehensiveness of the data cannot be guaranteed, but where appropriate, action is taken to verify the facts. The data is updated should relevant information become available.”
For more information, visit www.ipaf.org/accident