Monthly Archives: February 2020

ANSI A.92 Modifications – The Time Is Now

By now, you may have heard of the upcoming changes to ANSI standards for aerial work platforms, now called MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms). While we are still unsure of the effective date, we do know changes are coming very soon. While dealers, owners and operators will all feel the impacts of the new standards, we want to focus on how you, the consumer/operator, will be affected.

The new ANSI A92 standard was developed to improve safety and efficiency for MEWP design and use of MEWPs. Within ANSI A92, there are three standards affecting the MEWP user- the A92.20, covering machine design; the A92.22 covering safe use; and the A92.24 covering training.

Machine Design Standards

Under these new standards, MEWPs are classified differently, divided into the following groups:

  • Group A for those with platforms that move vertically but stay inside the tipping line.
  • Group B for all other MEWPs – typically, boom-type equipment where the platform extends past the tipping line.

Within each of these groups, machines are separated into types:

  • Type 1 for those that travel only in the stowed position.
  • Type 2 for those that can travel while elevated but controlled from the chassis.
  • Type 3 for those that can travel while elevated but controlled from the work platform.

There are also changes to the overall design of the machines.

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Safe Use Program

One new requirement that will promote safety when using MEWPs is creating and implementing a “safe use program.” Users are required to develop and implement a safe use program that includes a risk assessment. This risk assessment needs to include guidelines for MEWP supervisors, operators, and occupants. The risk assessment consists of several stages including; work definition, MEWP selection, risk evaluation, rescue planning, and communication. Before a job starts, and periodically throughout a long-term job, the risk assessment must be reviewed to determine if any pieces of the tasks or the work environment have changed, as well as the effect that it could have on the safety of the job.

(Click to Enlarge)

The user must also develop a written rescue plan that will be carried out in the case of machine breakdown, platform entanglement or fall from the platform. The plan must be put in writing and become part of the company’s training manual. All occupants must receive training that explains the procedures to follow if they fall and await rescue or witness another worker’s fall. This plan must limit the time a properly restrained worker hangs suspended in the air.

Rescue plans can include the following:

  • Self-Rescue- by the person involved (using a self-rescue harness)
  • Assisted Rescue- by others in the work area (using the ground controls or a second MEWP)
  • Technical Rescue- by emergency services (fire department or air rescue)

 

Training

Dealers, owners and users must train and familiarize, or have proof of training and familiarization, for all employees they allow to operate a MEWP. ANSI will allow qualified operators, who have already received proper training and are qualified to operate other MEWP’s, to self-familiarize on machines they have not yet operated. However, all current operators will need to be trained up to the new standards.

Supervisors of those operating MEWPS must also be properly trained. The user must ensure that all personnel that directly supervise MEWP operators are trained in the following areas:

  • Proper MEWP selection- How high?, Outreach or not?, How many people in the platform?, Inside or outside or both?, Doorway access?, Single or double or larger?
  • Rules, regulations and standards that apply to MEWPs, including operation, safe use and training
  • Potential hazards associated with the use of MEWPS and how to protect against them
  • Where manufacturer’s operation manuals should be stored and how they should be used

 

For more information on these new ANSI standards, please visit Hugg & Hall’s additional articles on this subject at www.hugghall.com/news/category/industrystandards/ or contact a Hugg & Hall salesman.

Below are printable forms to better assist you with these modifications.

Printable Risk Assessment Form 

Printable Rescue Plan 

Employee Spotlight : Emily Altazin

Emily Altazin – Service Administrator – Baton Rouge

Meet Emily Altazin, our Service Administrator in Baton Rouge!

For six years, Emily has been working in the service industry. Here’s a glance into her work day. “I begin my day by checking and posting payroll,” She says. “Once that is finished and balanced, I start going through work orders to prep and bill out. By the afternoon, I go through any invoices that need to be submitted for payment, and review and schedule any Safety Alliance training that our technicians need.”

Emily’s favorite part of her job is “definitely the people, we are a family!” A special memory during her time at Hugg&Hall was after the 2016 flood. “Since we all live in different areas, some of us took longer at coming back to work. Some of our coworker’s houses flooded while others had family that were affected. It was such a hard time. I remember my first day back, everyone was waiting outside to start the day, and when I walked up, every single person came to hug me. It was emotional and truly showed how caring and great the people I work with are. As everyone slowly came back to work on different days, we welcomed them back with a hug!” 

Before her role as a Service Administrator, Emily worked as a Rental Coordinator for Scott Equipment and a Fingerprint Analyst for the Louisiana State Police. A little-known fact about Emily is her fear of crowds.

Emily says if she wasn’t in the service industry, she would probably be an Office Manager or work in accounting.

Emily was born and raised in Denham Springs, LA and still lives there with her husband of 19 years Jason, daughter Fallon (age 13), and dogs Sven (age 5) and Gumbo (age 6 months). Outside of work, Emily enjoys camping, hanging out and cooking with family and friends, and LSU football!

When asked to give advice to others in a similar profession, Emily says to “be patient and kind”.

We agree, Emily, and are so glad you’re a part of the Hugg & Hall team! We appreciate you!

To learn more about our awesome employees? Check out our Employee Spotlights page! 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2020. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in February 2023.