JLG Industries, Inc.
World-leading access equipment manufacturer
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McConnellsburg, PA
Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), such as boom and scissor lifts, are powerful, durable and useful machines. Contractors, maintenance workers, just about anyone who needs to safely perform tasks at height finds MEWPs invaluable. That said, it’s crucial to properly train operators and other nearby workers how to safely use these machines and minimize the risk of injuries, property damage and worksite liability.
Access industry equipment continues to evolve, and the industry’s safety standards have to evolve as well. We have to ensure that machine owners and operators understand these standards and let them know about any upcoming changes that will affect how they use and operate access equipment. The new ANSI A92 standard for the access and lift equipment industry is a great example. This standard will address new issues, simplify MEWP classification terminology and promote better safety and education.
The ANSI A92 Standard
For those who aren’t familiar with ANSI – the American National Standards Institute – it’s a private, nonprofit organization that develops consensus standards and assessment systems across many U.S. industries. While ANSI standards apply specifically to American products, they’re used as guidelines and best practices worldwide.
The last major changes to ANSI standards in the access industry happened more than a decade ago in 2006, so it’s definitely time for an update. The new ANSI A92 standard was developed to improve safety and efficiency for MEWP design and use of MEWPs, which were formerly referred to as aerial work platforms. The updated ANSI A92 suite of design, safe use and training standards was published in the U.S. on Dec. 10, 2018, it becomes officially effective in December 2019. These new standards more closely align North American standards requirements with current ISO standards.
Effects on Manufacturers, Owners and Operators
Within ANSI A92, there are three standards affecting the MEWP industry and its stakeholders—the A92.20, covering design; the A92.22, covering safe use; and the A92.24, covering training. JLG and other manufacturers must address design changes that impact MEWP wind ratings, chassis angle and load capacity.
Under these new standards, MEWPs are classified differently, divided into the following groups:
• Group A for those with platforms that move vertically but stay inside the tipping line.
• Group B for all other MEWPs – typically, boom-type equipment where the platform extends past the tipping line.
Within each of these groups, machines are separated into types:
• Type 1 for those that travel only in the stowed position.
• Type 2 for those that can travel while elevated but controlled from the chassis.
• Type 3 for those that can travel while elevated but controlled from the work platform.
Machine owners and operators will have their own responsibilities when it comes to safe use and training. Dealers and rental companies will need to update their training procedures and onboarding manuals to support new requirements and train employees on new machine features and the new standards. They must also offer familiarization to customers who rent, lease or buy this equipment. Owners and operators must meet all new training requirements, participate in extensive planning to consider machine choice and application, and perform site risk assessments for all MEWP operations and training procedures.
It's important to note that anyone qualified under current standards will not be qualified under the new standards until they undergo additional training. While current regulations require all operators in the industry to go through safety training, the new standards will require everyone who supervises MEWP operators to also be trained and possess in-depth knowledge of the equipment. For example, occupants must well informed about possible MEWP hazards, unsafe ground conditions or electrical hazards, and how to properly lower the machine in case something happens to the operator.
Operator training can be broken down into three segments: theory, practice and evaluation. The theory segment can be learned in a classroom or online and includes training on the entire safe-use standard and how it applies to each machine. The practice segment includes applying this knowledge for proper hands-on experience and machine operation. The evaluation segment includes proper documentation of success in the previous two training segments.
The Time is Now
Because ANSI A92 standards were published a year in advance of the December 2019 effective date, companies received a full year to become compliant. While many have already begun to implement these changes, others haven’t even started.
From a training and safe-use perspective, there’s simply no reason to wait until that deadline gets closer. As an equipment manufacturer, JLG can and is qualifying people today under the new standards. Everyone involved with MEWPs – no matter the industry – should start implementing the safe use policies and practices right now.
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