{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-blog-page-index-js","path":"/blog/what-to-do-when-your-mewp-breaks-down-on-site","result":{"pageContext":{"pageData":{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDo0NDUx","date":"2026-04-13T08:57:00","postedDate":"13th April 2026","yearMonth":"/2026/04/","year":"/2026/","month":"04/","title":"What to Do When Your MEWP Breaks Down on Site","seo":{"fullHead":"\nWhat to Do When Your MEWP Breaks Down on Site | Horizon Platforms\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n"},"excerpt":"

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 … Continue reading “What to Do When Your MEWP Breaks Down on Site”

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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.

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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.

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Steps to Follow if Your Access Platform Breaks Down on Site

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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:

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1. Stop Work Immediately

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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.

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2. Isolate the MEWP

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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.

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3. Implement Your Rescue Plan

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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:

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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.

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4. Set Up Exclusion Zones

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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.

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5. Warn Nearby Workers

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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.

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6. Report to the Site Manager

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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.

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7. Log the Fault

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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.

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8. Call Your Hire Company

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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.

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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.

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Find out more about our Horizon Customer Commitments to see how are operations are geared to help you hit your goals and schedules.

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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 … Continue reading “What to Do When Your MEWP Breaks Down on Site”

\n","status":"publish","uri":"/what-to-do-when-your-mewp-breaks-down-on-site/","featuredImage":null},{"id":"cG9zdDo0NDQ4","date":"2026-04-10T11:39:54","title":"How to Renew Your IPAF Licence","excerpt":"

IPAF PAL Cards are valid for 5 years. When it expires, you need to complete a renewal course to remain certified to operate mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) such as scissor lifts, cherry pickers and push around platforms. This article explains what the renewal process involves, when to do it, and why it matters. Why … Continue reading “How to Renew Your IPAF Licence”

\n","status":"publish","uri":"/how-to-renew-your-ipaf-licence/","featuredImage":null},{"id":"cG9zdDo0MzU1","date":"2026-02-25T16:43:42","title":"Dos and Don’ts for Using Scissor Lifts and Cherry Pickers","excerpt":"

A practical safety guide for managers and health and safety leads Scissor lifts and cherry pickers (boom lifts) are among the most versatile and widely used pieces of access equipment to enable safe work at height. But with that versatility comes responsibility. These machines are heavy and powerful, and unfortunately, every year, accidents occur that … Continue reading “Dos and Don’ts for Using Scissor Lifts and Cherry Pickers”

\n","status":"publish","uri":"/dos-and-donts-for-using-scissor-lifts-and-cherry-pickers/","featuredImage":null},{"id":"cG9zdDo0MzQw","date":"2025-11-28T11:30:27","title":"Winter-Proof Your MEWP: The Simple Step That Prevents Downtime","excerpt":"

As temperatures drop, powered access platforms can become more vulnerable to performance issues, with flat batteries being one of the biggest issues. For teams working on installs, maintenance or repairs, winter downtime isn’t just inconvenient, it can cost time, money, and reputation. The good news? In this article, our Aftersales Manager, Todor Ilinov runs you … Continue reading “Winter-Proof Your MEWP: The Simple Step That Prevents Downtime”

\n","status":"publish","uri":"/winter-proof-your-mewp-the-simple-step-that-prevents-downtime/","featuredImage":null},{"id":"cG9zdDo0MzA2","date":"2025-10-14T14:32:34","title":"10 uses of a telescopic boom lift","excerpt":"

When planning a work-from-height project, you’ll likely want to consider a variety of MEWPs to help you complete the task in hand. If so, we’d like to suggest telescopic booms as a contender for the best boom lift for the job. Reading on, we’ve explored the practical uses of telescopic booms, to give you an … Continue reading “10 uses of a telescopic boom lift”

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