5 common hazards to be aware of when working around EWPs
It’s important for workers and supervisors in warehouses, on building sites and in hazardous industries to have the right health and safety training. Appropriate training is needed for working at heights and for operating elevated work platforms (EWPs).
Alongside getting the right certification, you need to be alert at all times and know the different hazards to look out for. Read on to learn about what your team should be aware of.
Damaged or incorrect PPE
Proper PPE must be worn by an EWP operator. This includes a full safety harness and restraints that are secured correctly. Operating Boom type EWPs is extremely dangerous and can cause falls that result in serious injuries. It’s important to safeguard this from happening with the correct PPE.
Incorrect or unsafe EWP set up
An EWP should be visually inspected and function tested before it gets used. This allows any maintenance issues or risks that need addressing to be caught and rectified. A logbook should be used after every inspection to record that this is happening. Also, before operating an EWP, a risk assessment should be undertaken to check for uneven or unstable ground, pedestrians or obstacles such as trees or overhead cables.
Unsafe usage of the EWP
To work safely on an EWP, the operator should keep their feet firmly on the platform and perform a 100% tie-off when leaving or entering. Workers should never attempt to sit or climb down the platform when its raised.
Leaving trip hazards on the platform
An EWP platform should always be kept free from trip hazards such as debris, toolboxes, buckets or any other materials. If left, obstacles can cause a worker to trip, or an object could fall off the platform, possibly injuring someone underneath. If tools are needed on the platform, make sure to use a fall suspension to catch anything that drops and assign an exclusion zone under the EWP.
Operator having expired or non-completed EWP training
To operate an EWP safely, it’s necessary to have the correct training. If a worker hasn’t completed this, or their training has expired, it’s important to get it updated before they start to work with EWPs. This ensures they can operate an EWP to the highest safety standards and keep themselves and everyone around them free from harm.
What training courses should be taken to work with EWPs?
EWP operators need the right certifications that are recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Link Resources provides nationally accredited training programs for those working in the heavy industries. The two courses needed to work safely with EWPS include:
To sign up for either of these courses, head to the course page, choose your preferred start date and click ‘Book Now’.