Loose safety culture risk to staff

Elevated work platforms (EWP) require a six-monthly and a 10-year major certification to comply with the relevant standard, regulations and MBIE code of practise (refer AS1418.10 or equivalent). EHL’s Steve Boyde, is a CBIP (Certified Board for Inspection Personnel) inspector who often sees machines that have been certified, but are clearly non-compliant, and is baffled that companies would put their staff and customers at risk by either not engaging a certified professional, or using the cheapest inspector to save a few bucks.

The industry is rather loosely regulated, and therefore some companies are using uncertified inspectors who are not certifying machines to the relevant standards, and not upgrading the machine’s safety features or software.

Because the industry is not closely regulated, the standards and codes are open to interpretation by the inspector, and rather than inspectors all certifying them the same. Often companies using these inspectors may have no idea their machines have a substandard certification, and are unaware just how much they are putting their staff and customers at risk by not having them certified by a CBIP certified technician.

EHL are also members of the Elevated Work Platform Association, which ensures they always have the latest information, and that their certified technician’s skills are constantly in-line with the industry standard, something Boyde says is critical and anyone who is certifying these machines should belong to, ensuring safety when verifying plant and equipment that has the potential to harm, like an EWP does.

There are new rules and regulations coming into play in the near future, which should ensure a little more regulation is enforced, but it is something that all EWP owners need to be aware of when engaging someone to undertake their certifications.

Boyde reiterates that you should “always engage with a CBIP certified professional, and you’re guaranteed they are working to the highest standard available in New Zealand to ensure the safety of you, your staff, and your customers”.