Guidelines address inspections of aging access platforms

Crooklands, England – In acknowledgment of the growing demand for second-hand mobile elevating work platforms and the retention of aging equipment in rental fleets, the International Powered Access Federation has released new technical guidance on inspections of access platforms to help keep the equipment safe beyond the manufacturer’s design life.

The guidance document outlines how to perform inspections to confirm structural integrity and functionality of a mobile elevating work platform, spelling out the recommended scope and frequency of inspections, as well as the entities that should conduct the inspections.

IPAF technical and safety executive Chris Wraith said the new guidance takes into account that some machines may be in service for 10 years or more but not reach their design life in terms of usage, while others may reach their design life before 10 years because of intense usage or use in a harsh operating environment.