Powered Access and the need for training

Cherry pickers, MEWPs, elevated access platforms, basket cranes—these are all terms you come across quite commonly in the construction and maintenance fields. Powered access is crucial in enabling workers reach hard-to-reach spots like high windows and points on structural glass facades.

MEWPs, or Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, include devices like Cherry Pickers, Scissor Lifts, Access Platforms or Aerial Platforms.

The one thing all these have in common, apart from their being incredible aids in the construction industry, is the risk of injury associated with them.

The Risks Involved

Operators working in a high basket run the risk of entrapment, which is the danger of getting stuck between the elevated platform and the fixed structure. When a worker gets pinned against his controls, steering the boom to safety may be out of the question.

Some heavy booms, especially the tall ones carrying heavy loads, run the risk of simply toppling over, or teetering on the verge of toppling. In both these cases, the operator is prone to getting thrown right out of his platform.

Other risks associated with powered devices include collision with bystanders (danger to the bystander) or with nearby buildings (danger to the MEWP).

The only way such risks can be eliminated, or at least reduced to a tolerable level, is by offering training to operators. This is done in an efficient manner by an organisation called the Internal Powered Access Federation, or IPAF.

An Organisation for training

The IPAF is a non-profit establishment that exists for the purpose of providing access training for operators, and for imparting crucial knowledge that can help reduce operational risks. This organisation, run by manufacturers, contractors, rental companies, and users, offers a training programme called the ‘IPAF Operation Course for Scissor Lift and Cherry Picker.’

By making use of this convenient 2-day program, operators can be informed about the various hazards involved with powered access devices and trained on ways to avoid them.

The IPAF licenses are available for the following categories:

Static Vertical - Not many devices in use today, replaced as they are by the PAV (Push Around Vertical Category)

Static Boom - Covers van-, truck-, and trailer-mounted devices which are indeed stationary when the boom is operational.

Mobile Vertical - Machines that can be driven around, and move straight up or down. Includes scissor and telescopic lifts.

Mobile Boom - Covers ‘cherry pickers’ that can be driven around, and can rotate all around when stationary (by means of boom).

This organisation has gone a long way in ensuring safety standards in powered access devices around the world, and it’s great for construction managers to ensure that operators are suitably licensed.

Overhead Hoist configuration explained

As their name suggests, overhead hoists are the machines used to lift/lower loads. These devices are powered by electricity, manual power, or air pressure, and primarily consist of a rope or chain arrangement wound around a lift wheel that acts as the fulcrum.

If you’re planning on using one of these at your construction site or for renovation/remodelling purposes, it is extremely helpful to understand how these popular machines work.

When classifying overhead hoists, the primary factors include the lifting medium, the source of lifting power, and the means of suspension of the load.

Lifting Mediums

This refers to the material that is used to lift/lower loads. Depending on the application, the common lifting mediums include welded link chains, roller chains, and wire ropes.

Welded Link Chains

These are made of a series of interwoven links that are formed and welded. Chains of this type are made according to product-specific dimensions and material strength. This means that they are not interchangeable between hoists made by various manufacturers.

Rolled Chains

Rolled chains are a series of alternating-arranged roller links and pin links, where the pins articulate within the bushings while rollers are free to turn on the bushings. Roller chains made for hoists cannot be exchanged with those made for power transmissions. Also, only those roller chains whose specifications match the manufacturer’s recommendations can be used on a particular hoist.

Wire Ropes

These are made using wire strands wrapped around a suitable core. The wire rope fits into grooves on the hoist drum, and the latter transmits the lifting/lowering motion.

Lifting Power Sources

Manual Power

This consists of manually grasping and pulling a continuous hand chain suspended from the hoist. The hand chain is usually a welded link chain or a roller chain. For higher loads, multiple personnel pull on multiple chains.

Electric Power

Hoists powered this way are the easiest to operate; the operator simply raises or lowers the load by pressing the respective button on an electric switch. Radio controls are used sometimes.

Pneumatic Power

Air power devices are operated using switches that control, through a series of valves and other air devices, an air motor. The motor transmits power through hoist gearing.

Suspension Types

Hook mounted hoists have a hook at the top of the hoist frame or body; this hook suspends the load from the suspension pin of the trolley, or a suspension device fixed onto the main structure.

Lug mounted devices have a lug mounting attached to the top of the hoist frame.

Trolleys enable horizontal motion of the hoist unit as well as the load being handled.