NEW research from the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has highlighted a rise in the number of accident reports, but a welcome drop in fatalities.
The organisation said this is an encouraging sign that collective action across the powered access industry to tackle underlying causes of accidents is starting to take effect.
The findings were recorded in the latest report from the IPAF based on analysis of incidents logged through its Accident Reporting Portal.
The report analyses data collected via the portal covering the period 2013-23, focusing particularly on year-on-year trends to identify how well the industry is doing in tackling the key causes of accidents involving powered access equipment.
IPAF said that while mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs) and construction hoists are ‘statistically among the safest ways to work at height’, this year’s report shows that in 2022 there were 759 reports of safety incidents from 34 countries, up 15% and 21% respectively. There were 831 people involved, and 102 deaths reported, a decline of around 19% on 2021, when there were 126 fatalities.
In terms of incidents resulting in deaths or major injury, falls from the platform remained the most common underlying cause, with overturns second. Hit by machine, vehicle or object was third, entrapment fourth and electrocution or electric shock fifth. Mechanical failure was joint seventh with falls from height (no machine involved) – a notable reduction following a spike in reported incidents in 2021.
In 2022, the main sectors from which reports were received were rental activity, construction, and facilities management.
Brian Parker, IPAF’s head of safety & technical, said, “When we look at the data from 2022 and the key trends and annual changes, there are some encouraging signs. For one, reporting has increased, both in terms of the number of reports received in total and countries reporting; up from 692 reports from 28 countries in 2021 to 831 (and counting) from 34 countries worldwide in 2022.
“There are now more countries where IPAF members are mandated to report all incidents into the portal, and the three countries where it is a requirement of membership have seen increased reporting over the past three years. Reporting companies can also benefit from new dashboards to benchmark safety performance.
“The other key statistic is that, while reports have increased, the number of deaths has fallen. In 2021 there were 126 deaths reported, the same as in 2020. However, in 2022, that number was 102 – this means the effective fatality rate among reported incidents has reduced by around one fifth (19%). This is cause for cautious optimism.
“It is not yet possible to directly measure the impact of industry safety campaigns and the introduction of new safety and technical guidance or updates to training. But it is nonetheless encouraging to think campaigns such as IPAF’s Don’t Fall for It! or High Voltage! along with key technical guidance documents may have helped to save lives or reduce the risk of accidents leading to life-changing injury since being published.”
Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF, added, “IPAF continues to empower all operators and supervisors to report incidents quickly, easily and, if so wished, anonymously via its ePAL app. We hope this unlocks widespread reporting of accidents, as well as minor and near-miss incidents that often go under-reported.”
Mark Keily, SHEQ director at Sunbelt Rentals and chair of IPAF’s ISC, commented, “We can never be complacent. Even while, statistically speaking, our industry becomes safer year on year, we cannot accept that accidents will happen when using powered access equipment. We hope that by highlighting the sometimes stark warnings that the analysis in the report raises, we can pull together to shift the dial on safety awareness.”
