Inspecting and Maintaining Elevating Work Platforms

Full Description

Elevating work platforms (EWPs) can pose a number of work health and safety (WHS) risks. A preventative inspection, maintenance and testing program will help ensure an EWP is safe to use. This guide provides information to a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) on:

• inspection
• inspection types
• monitoring and testing, and
• recording and reporting.

1.1.          What are elevating work platforms?

EWPs are powered mobile plant designed to lift or lower people and equipment by a telescopic, hinged or articulated device, or any combination of these, from a base support. EWPs are generally of either an articulated or boom-type variety.

1.2.          Who should use this Guide?

This Guide has been developed to assist duty holders, primarily PCBUs, meet their duties and obligations under WHS laws. You should use this Guide if you or your workers operate, maintain, inspect or repair EWPs in a workplace.

1.3.          How to use this Guide

This Guide is intended to supplement other information available from Safe Work Australia to assist you to meet your duties and obligations under WHS laws. It should be read in conjunction with the following:

• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks,
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace,
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work, and
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of falls at workplaces.

This Guide includes references to the legal requirements under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. These are included for convenience only and should not be relied on in place of the full text of the WHS Act or WHS Regulations.

In this Guide, the word ‘must’ indicates a legal requirement that must be complied with. The word ‘should’ indicates a recommended course of action.

1.4.          Who has health and safety duties in relation to EWPs?

PCBUs have the primary health and safety duties in relation to inspection and maintenance of EWPs.

Officers of a PCBU must exercise due diligence to ensure their PCBU complies with its duties.