IPAF's 2025 Global Safety Campaign

In March 2025, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) announced at the IPAF Summit that their annual Global Safety Campaign would be entitled Stop Overturns – Safety Starts on the Ground!

According to the IPAF Accident Reporting Portal, fatal overturns have increased by 50% since January 2021. The data also identified that these incidents usually occur during setup, travel or operation on inadequate or unsuitable ground/floor conditions. Not only do overturns result in serious and possibly fatal incidents, but these situations can also lead to the operator and occupants being ejected from the platform, resulting in complex rescue scenarios for those trapped at height during a partial overturn.

The aim of IPAF's 2025 campaign is to raise awareness of how to manage and minimise the risks and hazards of MEWP overturns.

What are the hazards and risks of MEWP overturns?

• Injuries and Fatalities: Operators and occupants can be injured or killed due to falling from height or being struck by an overturning MEWP
• Increased Liability: Companies can be legally accountable for accidents
• Emergency Services: The authorities may be called to recover and rescue which can be complex and time-consuming
• Disruption of Worksite: Operations could come to a standstill or be delayed as a result of a MEWP overturn, especially if investigations take place
• Equipment Damage: A MEWP could be deemed as a write-off or need costly repairs
• Damage to Property: Nearby structures, vehicles or machines can become damaged, meaning repair costs and delays in operations
• Psychological Impact: As a result of a MEWP overturn, workers may face stress and anxiety, affecting performance and morale
• Environmental Hazards: Spilled fuels or other hazardous materials can cause environmental damage

Workers can manage and minimise the risks of a MEWP overturns and keep operations running smoothly:

• During the planning phase, complete a risk assessment. This should include an evaluation of the ground and support structures that MEWPs are to be positioned or travelled on
• Conduct pre-use inspections of the MEWP by the operator before use
• The operator should conduct a ground assessment prior to each use of the MEWP
• Identify potential hazards by walking the route that the MEWP is intending to travel
• MEWPs should be kept in safe-to-use condition following the manufacturer's specifications and industry standards
• Employers need to ensure that all of their operators are adequately trained and familiarised

Find out more on IPAF’s website or download IPAF's safety poster.

We offer a variety of IPAF Training that can be delivered on your site or at one of our training centres. Contact us today for more information.