Health & Safety - Is Paramount

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and case law following the deaths of workers falling from height mean that organisations and other property owners must be ever more stringent when planning high level working. 25 UK workers were killed falling in 2007.

Using powered access platforms is now recommended by the Health & Safety Executive as one of the safest means of accessing high places in safety - as long as the operator has been properly trained.

Cherry Green will do a WAHR risk assessment before starting work, and can provide a copy to customers. Operators will assess each site taking into account surface conditions, weather, machine type, height, outreach requirements and other factors.

All our team have Powered Access Licences (PALs) issued by IPAF, the industry governing body (The International Powered Access Federation). Customers should ask to see these licences - our crews will be happy to oblige.

In line with industry best practice, Cherry Green requires our operators & passengers to wear a full-body harness and short lanyard securely anchored to the cage. We provide this equipment. Any passenger declining, such as a tree surgeon, must sign a disclaimer. There are exceptions for scissor lift platform working, subject to a satisfactory risk assessment.

Our operators will carry an anemometer for external work. They are required to stay within safe windspeed limits. On most platforms the maximum permissible windspeed is 12 metres/second or 28 miles per hour.

It is essential that there is always a competent person on the ground near the MEWP in case of an emergency. There is an emergency descent system and the person on the ground must be capable of understanding how this works. Our crews use our own radios to communicate, especially if using traffic management equipment.

Cherry Green operatives always remain in charge of the operation of the MEWP. The crew will be continually re-assessing the safety of a situation, considering windspeed, snow, extreme cold or heat, lightning, daylight, fuel supply, and fatigue. An operator may cease operating at any time on safety grounds.