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IPAF; Ensuring The Safety Of Those Working At Height

by prettyone

The International Powered Access Federation or IPAF for short is
a body that over the last twenty five years has strived to
promote safe working procedures for powered access machinery
workers. It has attempted to pursue these goals by producing
training schedules for these workers so they have knowledge of
safety issues and how to implement safe working practices. Formed
in 1983 IPAF has worked towards these objectives as a non-profit
organisation producing training guidelines and setting the
standard in terms of safety procedures in the world of powered
access.

Through a large network of affiliated training centres IPAF has
been able to deliver its message worldwide; at all times trainers
are strictly regulated to ensure they adhere to IPAF
recommendations and regulations. Once training has been completed
an operative is given a Powered Access License meaning that they
are safe to work on all manner of powered access machinery such
as scissor lifts and cherry pickers. In recent years the Work at
Height Regulations (2005) introduced by the British government
has meant that in this country at least, the work of IPAF has
been enhanced by statutory regulations to improve worker safety.

These Work at Height Regulations apply to anyone who works
somewhere where there is a risk of falling and injury. The reason
they were created was to prevent accidental deaths whilst working
at height. In terms of responsibility, a business owner, a self
employed worker and even site managers are legally responsible
for ensuring the safety of those working at height. Part of this
responsibility is to ensure that all work is correctly planned
taking into account the effects of weather; that all equipment is
safe to use and properly maintained and any risks such as fragile
surfaces and falling objects are controlled effectively.

IPAF comes under the responsibilities defined by regulations as
the manger or supervisor must ensure that all workers on the
machinery have had adequate training to be deemed as competent.
This applies not only to working methods, but the procedures of
assembly and disassembly as well as the maintenance of machinery.
In addition, those who are deemed competent must train any
workers on how to avoid falling and how to fall correctly so any
effects of a fall will be limited.

One of the safety initiatives that has been produced by IPAF to
complement the government legislation has been the "clunk-click"
campaign. Fundamentally this initiative works towards the
situation where anyone who is working at height is always wearing
a full body safety harness to ensure that any falls do not result
in serious injury. This harness is always in contact with a
secure anchor point meaning that even if a worker slips and
cannot place his hands on a point, the harness will take their
weight and prevent the fall.

IPAF, having been in existence for so long is regarded to be the
most authoritative resource on all matters pertaining to powered
access machinery safety. As such, the government uses the body as
an advisor when drafting legislation on safety issues. By working
in accordance with not only the British government but
governments worldwide has meant that IPAF training courses can be
deemed as an all encompassing approach, taking into account
regulations from a large number of legislative bodies. Despite
this, the constant upheaval of legally defined safety regulations
means that training courses are updated regularly to adapt to
changes to legislation.

Thanks to its global approach and conscientious working methods
the training offered by IPAF regulated centres means that safety
for those working at height is now better than it has been in the
past. That said, the work of this body is never fully completed,
as technological developments and regulations come into effect,
IPAF will continue to strive towards making the world of working
at height safer.

Regulatory compliance expert Thomas Pretty looks into the
importance of <a
href="http://www.systemscaffoldtrainingservices.com/ipaf-training.html">IPAF
training</a> for those working at height.

Syndicated by Top Gazebos - www.topgazebos.net

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