IPAF's Check It! Campaign Reinforces a Message Being Heard Across the Industry
Safety has always been a priority within the powered access sector, but there are times when a particular message seems to gain momentum across the entire industry. Over the last few months, that message has been clear: safer outcomes are achieved when everyone takes responsibility for their role and works together towards the same goal.
IPAF's 2026 Check It! campaign is a strong example of that approach. Focusing on inspections, maintenance, equipment checks and incident reporting, the campaign encourages everyone involved with powered access equipment to play their part in creating safer working environments.
While the campaign is centred around MEWPs and powered access equipment, the principles behind it reach much further. The themes of shared responsibility, competence and collaboration continue to appear throughout the wider construction and minerals sectors, and they are becoming increasingly important as businesses look to improve standards across their operations.
A Shared Responsibility for Safety
One of the reasons the Check It! campaign stands out is that it avoids placing responsibility on any single group of people.
When incidents occur, there is often a temptation to focus on the operator, the supervisor or the company involved. In reality, safe outcomes are usually the result of many different people doing the right things at the right time. Equipment needs to be properly maintained, inspections need to be completed thoroughly, faults need to be reported and acted on, and operators need to have the confidence and competence to identify when something isn't right.
Each stage plays a role in supporting the next. A well-maintained machine supports a safe operator. A good reporting culture helps prevent future incidents. Clear communication makes it easier for everyone involved to understand what is expected of them.
That collective approach is what makes the campaign particularly relevant. It reflects the reality of how safety is achieved in practice, with multiple people contributing to the same outcome rather than relying on one individual to carry the responsibility alone.
The Connection to Vision Zero
The campaign also aligns closely with the principles behind Vision Zero, an initiative that continues to influence health and safety thinking across the UK.
At its heart, Vision Zero promotes the belief that workplace harm can be prevented through leadership, collaboration, planning and continuous improvement. Rather than accepting incidents as an unavoidable part of work, the focus is on creating environments where people actively look for opportunities to reduce risk and improve standards.
That philosophy has become increasingly visible across a range of industries, including construction, quarrying and materials production. It encourages businesses to move beyond compliance and to think about how they can contribute positively to safer outcomes for their workforce, contractors and supply chains.
The link between Vision Zero and the Check It! campaign is easy to see. Both encourage people to take ownership of their responsibilities, engage with safety proactively and recognise that small actions can have a significant impact when consistently applied across an organisation.
A Message We Heard at the MPA Health & Safety Awards
The same themes were evident at this year's MPA Health & Safety Awards, where we were proud to sponsor the Safer Together Award.
What made that category particularly interesting was its focus on collaboration. The award recognises organisations that work together to improve health and safety outcomes, sharing knowledge, experiences and best practice for the benefit of the wider industry.
Across the event, there was a strong sense that some of the biggest safety improvements happen when businesses look beyond their own organisation and learn from others. Whether that means sharing lessons learned, discussing challenges openly or adopting successful approaches from elsewhere, collaboration continues to be one of the most effective ways to raise standards.
That idea sits comfortably alongside IPAF's campaign. Safety does not improve because of a single initiative, a single training course or a single procedure. It improves when organisations create cultures where people are encouraged to speak up, learn from one another and take responsibility for the standards they set.
Why Competence Remains at the Centre
For us, one of the most important takeaways from the campaign is the continued emphasis on competence.
Equipment checks, inspections and maintenance procedures all rely on people understanding what they are looking at, why it matters and what action should be taken when something appears wrong. The quality of those decisions often comes down to the knowledge, experience and confidence of the people carrying them out.
That is why competence remains such an important part of the conversation. Training should do more than help someone achieve a qualification. It should give them the understanding needed to make informed decisions, recognise potential issues and contribute positively to a safer workplace.
The most effective safety cultures are built around people who understand their responsibilities and feel empowered to act when necessary. Campaigns such as Check It! help reinforce that message and encourage businesses to keep those conversations active throughout the year.
Looking Ahead
The Check It! campaign arrives at a time when many organisations are looking closely at how they can strengthen their health and safety performance. Whether through Vision Zero, industry awards, improved training programmes or internal initiatives, there is a clear appetite across the sector to keep raising standards.
What connects all of these efforts is the understanding that safety works best when people work together. Strong maintenance processes, thorough inspections, effective training and open communication all contribute to the same goal, creating workplaces where risks are managed properly and everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.
That may sound like a simple objective, but it remains one of the most important responsibilities shared by every business operating within our industry.