Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), such as boom and scissor lifts, are powerful, durable and useful machines that help workers perform a wide range of tasks at height. Training operators and other workers on the safe use of these machines—formerly known as aeriel lift platforms—is crucial to decreasing the risk of injuries, property damage and liability on the worksite.

As equipment in the access industry continues to evolve, so too must the safety standards the industry relies upon. It’s also imperative for machine owners and operators to understand these safety standards, stay abreast of any upcoming modifications to these standards and prepare themselves accordingly.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization that develops consensus standards and assessment systems across many U.S. industries. While they apply specifically to products in the United States, these standards are used as guidelines and best practices around the world.

With the last major changes to ANSI standards in the access industry having taken place more than a decade ago in 2006, it was time for an update. The new ANSI A92 standard for the access and lift equipment industry addresses new issues, simplifies the MEWP classification terminology, supports design efficiency, and promotes both safety and education.

The updated ANSI A92 suite of design, safe use and training standards was published on Dec. 10, 2018, and will be officially effective as of December 2019. These new standards more closely align North American standards requirements with current ISO standards.

“This updated standard will bring us closer to one standard throughout the world,” says Rick Smith, senior director of global product training for JLG. Smith volunteers on two of the ANSI subcommittees that helped develop the A92 standard.

Effects on Manufacturers, Owners and Operators

Within ANSI A92, three standards affect the MEWP industry and its stakeholders—the A92.20, which is design; the A92.22, which is safe use; and the A92.24, which is training. Notably, manufacturers must address design changes that impact MEWP wind ratings, chassis angle and load capacity.

Under these new standards, MEWPs are classified differently. MEWPs are divided into Group A for those with platforms that move vertically, yet stay inside the tipping line, and Group B for all other MEWPs, which are typically boom-type equipment with a platform extending past the tipping line.

Within these two groups, machines are then separated into types: Type 1 for those traveling only in the stowed position; Type 2 for those traveling while elevated and controlled from the chassis; and Type 3 for those traveling while elevated and controlled from the work platform.

Training Requirements

When it comes to safe use and training, machine owners and operators will have their own sets of responsibilities with which to comply. Dealers and rental companies will need to update their training procedures and onboarding manuals to support new requirements and train employees on the new machine features and standards. They must also offer familiarization training 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, plus perform site risk assessments for all MEWP operations and training procedures.

“From manufacturers, equipment designers and stakeholders to dealers, owners and operators—everyone has an important role to play in this standard change,” Smith says. “For example, when a company rents a machine, they are responsible for ensuring their operators are properly trained, and that the right machine is being rented with a trained supervisor. The user or employer is responsible for many aspects of safe operation and training.”

Anyone qualified under current standards will not be qualified under the new standard 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 be trained as well and possess in-depth knowledge of the equipment.

“Everyone involved with the platform, including both operators and occupants, must also be properly trained and knowledgeable about the machine in use,” Smith says. “Examples of the knowledge required by occupants includes being well informed about hazards associated with MEWPs, 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, in tandem with its application to each machine.

The second training segment includes utilizing this knowledge for proper, hands-on experience and machine operation.

The last piece of training—the evaluation—includes proper documentation of success in the previous two training segments.

The Time is Now

The ANSI A92 standard was published a year in advance of the December 2019 effective date, giving companies a year to become compliant. Many companies have already begun to implement the changes; however, many have not even started.

“From a training and safe-use perspective, there’s no reason to wait until that deadline gets closer,” Smith says. “We can and are qualifying people today under the new standard, and everyone in the industry should start using the safe use policies and practices right now.”