While hiring a MEWP (mobile elevating work platforms) from Horizon Platforms guarantees a hassle-free experience 98% of the time, there are unfortunately occasions where a powered access platform may break down due to unforeseen or unexpected circumstances.
But what do you do when you’re in the middle of a job and your access platforms stops working? In this guide, we run you through the essential steps you need to follow if your lifters break down on site.
Steps to Follow if Your Access Platform Breaks Down on Site
Here, we’ve outlined the process you should follow if you experience a faulty MEWP mid-project. But, before we go on, it’s important to state that training is required before you follow these steps:
1. Stop Work Immediately
Your first action if your access platform suddenly stops working is to cease operation immediately. At this point, it’s essential to establish whether the machine is leaking or displaying any obvious hazards. If so, identify and record the issues.
2. Isolate the MEWP
The next step is to isolate the MEWP, if possible and safe to do so. You should remove the keys and turn the power off, so it’s stationary. This action should be carried out by somebody on site who has undergone appropriate training.
3. Implement Your Rescue Plan
If there’s anyone stuck at height, initiate your rescue plan. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 stipulates you need a rescue plan as part of your safe systems of work. Unfortunately, rescue plans are not always fully understood or practiced. If you’ve not got a formal rescue procedure, you should. Don’t worry though, we’ve outlined the following considerations for you to create a rescue plan:
- Locate your rescue plan
- What method of rescue will you undertake?
- Who needs to know?
- Who is responsible for what roles?
- Do you require any equipment to safely undertake the rescue?
- Do you require a trained individual to undertake the rescue?
- Do you need to liaise with the emergency services?
- Do you need to provide an emergency provisions pack to relieve the stuck staff from cold, hunger, or thirst?
We’ve also covered everything you need to know about creating a rescue plan and understanding the ‘MEWP Rescue Hierarchy’ in a practical guide to MEWP rescue planning.
4. Set Up Exclusion Zones
Once you’ve safely turned off the machine and established it’s no longer operational, cordon it off. If you have cones, make sure the area of potential danger is immediately obvious: gates, cones or barriers will be more effective here, if available.
5. Warn Nearby Workers
The initial steps above are all about isolating the faulty MEWP and separating it from your workers. Once you’re confident these steps have been followed, notify all other staff on site of the dysfunctional MEWP, so they don’t try use it and accidentally put themselves in difficulty or danger.
6. Report to the Site Manager
Your next port of call should be officially reporting the incident to the on-site supervisor, manager, or equipment co-ordinator. Make sure to share as many details as possible.
7. Log the Fault
Alongside reporting the fault to a manager, you should log the machine breakdown according to site procedures. Identify any logbooks you need to input the issue into.
8. Call Your Hire Company
Finally, once you’re confident you’ve followed the above steps appropriately, and comfortable with the safety of your team, reach out to your hire company or maintenance provider. Luckily, most MEWP related problems on a worksite are related to human error or being unfamiliar with a platform, and an engineer should be able to identify and rectify the issue over the phone. If not, with Horizon, an engineer can be on site within hours to fix the problem. Alternatively, a replacement lifter will be sent.
At Horizon Platforms, we take particular pride in our out of hours customer support, offering 24/7 access to our help desk and engineers. You can be on the phone with an engineer in 15 minutes, day or night, and have one on site in three hours if necessary, during working hours.
Find out more about our Horizon Customer Commitments to see how are operations are geared to help you hit your goals and schedules.