Horizon Platforms Blog

Common Access Platform Issues and How to Avoid Them

Powered access platforms, or Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), are indispensable across many industries, facilitating safe and efficient work at elevated heights. However, despite their critical role, encountering issues with MEWPs can happen, and such challenges significantly impact productivity, schedules and safety on worksites. 

Therefore, in this blog, we delve into the common powered access platform issues we have encountered and outline the proactive measures we undertake to avoid them completely or resolve them within hours rather than days. 

Powered Access Platform Delivery Delays

At Horizon Platforms, we understand the frustration of powered access delivery delays, which can disrupt project schedules and hinder progress. That’s why we prioritise meticulous planning and streamlined logistics resulting in 98% of deliveries being on time

Leveraging our best-class network and state-of-the-art route planning software, we deploy our dedicated team to promptly deliver MEWPs to your worksite, regardless of location or scheduling requirements. 

With tried and tested processes and procedures prioritising timely delivery, we not only help you keep your projects on track but also provide the peace of mind that comes with our promise of reliable service and support.

Faulty MEWPs That Breakdown

Unfortunately, on occasion even the best quality MEWPs experience breakdowns, either through operator error or machine faults, which lead to downtime and safety concerns for your workforce. Therefore, it is important that whoever you hire your machines from, they should own the problem and get the lifter back up and running quickly. 

At Horizon Platforms we definitely own it, by supporting customers within 15 minutes over the phone or getting an engineer to site within 3 hours where necessary. Our responsive maintenance team is equipped to address any issues promptly, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations and the safety of your personnel.

However, we believe the real solution is mitigating the risks of machinery breakdowns altogether. That’s why, at Horizon Platforms, we keep our machines at the highest quality through regular preventative and manufacturer-recommended maintenance and by performing an extensive pre-delivery inspection, as standard, across every hire or MEWP purchase – be that new or used access platforms.

Want to know more about ensuring your MEWPs are working in top condition? Read our handy guide on How to Inspect Your MEWP.

Out-of-Hours Support

Issues during out-of-hours periods can pose great challenges for urgent work or maintenance tasks that need completing within a deadline. With Horizon Platforms’ 24 hour coverage across the UK, you can rely on us to supply the equipment you need whenever needed and rapidly support you should you have a problem. 

Whether it’s during weekends, holidays, or late-night shifts, we’re here to support your operations and ensure continuity. 

Learn more about our promises to you on our dedicated Horizon Platforms Commitments page.

Struggling to Keep Track of MEWPs Across Multiple Sites

Managing multiple MEWPs across various sites can be complex and time-consuming. And when the number of widespread projects and worksites get hectic, that’s the prime time for losing track of what you have on hire and where.

The Horizon Platforms HireHub provides complete account management, making it easier to track and manage the lifters you have on hire. With our centralised platform, you can hire, off-hire or extend hires whenever you want, all while making your finance team’s life easier with immediate access to invoices. In addition, you have full visibility of hire volumes, spend and Horizon’s service performance through the hire statistics dashboard.  Which makes the experience of hiring powered access platforms streamlined and altogether better.

Ensuring MEWPs are Safe and Compliant

The number one rule for any powered access hire business is ensuring MEWPs are in safe working order and meet official safety regulatory requirements. With over 16 years of industry experience, we understand the crucial role that safety plays in preventing serious accidents from occurring.

At Horizon Platforms, we are proud to be accredited with triple ISO and IPAF+ certification, demonstrating our commitment to safety and compliance. You can trust that our MEWPs are regularly inspected, well-maintained, and compliant with industry regulations, providing peace of mind for your operations.

With safety at the forefront of everything we do, we offer extensive IPAF training courses, covering a range of different topics to ensure you and your team are equipped with all of the knowledge and skills required to operate MEWPs safely and effectively.

Our training programmes include:

Avoid Powered Access Issues With Horizon Platforms 

At Horizon Platforms, we understand the importance of addressing common access platform issues promptly and effectively. With our reliable equipment, responsive support, and commitment to safety, we try to keep issues to a minimum. We’re close, 98% of our hires are trouble free. But if there is a problem, we don’t shirk responsibility and get you back up and running quickly. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your access platform needs, or head to our blog to keep up with the latest news on all things MEWPs.