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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.

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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 

ANSI A92 Safe Use Requirements: What to Know

ANSI A92 Safe Use Requirements: What to Know

As part of the new ANSI A92 updates, companies will be required to track and assess safe use procedures to a further extent. To help readers better understand the changes and how to acclimate to them, we’ve put together this quick breakdown which delineates the basics (not everything) of what you need to know.

The updated standards require that each job site undergo a thorough inspection before a MEWP can access, and be used on, the site. Sites should be inspected for specific safety hazards and job site characteristics, including (but not restricted to):

  • Drop-offs
  • Holes
  • Bumps
  • Cables
  • Obstructions
  • Overhead obstructions
  • Slopes
  • Debris
  • Any potential inability of the ground/flooring to sustain the pressure and weight of a/the MEWP
  • Confined areas (so that a MEWP appropriate to the job site is chosen)
  • Electrical conductors
  • Hazardous atmospheres
  • Weather conditions
  • Job site status/conditions
  • Potential traffic hazards

Another step to the updated standards require control measures be taken if safety hazards are, in fact, identified. For example, if a hazard is found when the job site is searched for safety issues, then the appropriate manuals and safety procedures are required to be reviewed and adjustments must be made to address the hazards and avoid an unsafe work environment.

As part of the updated standards a step-by-step process is required to ensure a controlled area below and around any MEWP on the job site. This process will be an effort to avoid any persons or objects coming into dangerous contact with the MEWP or objects falling from the MEWP.

According to an article recently published on Aerial Pros, the below precautions should be considered when operating in and around a MEWP.

  • When loading and unloading a MEWP from a transport vehicle on a public road, users and operators must take appropriate measures to protect everyone near the area
  • Use warning cones or hazard tape to help secure the area
  • Make sure signs and/or signal personnel wearing reflective clothing are visible to everyone working at a site or nearby
  • Use flag personnel to warn people and other vehicles about the presence of the MEWP and transport vehicle when operating near roadways

The new regulations replace prior ANSI standards A92.3, A92.5, A92.6 and A92.8 which covered manually propelled aerial, booms, scissors and under-bridge inspection machines. The standards dictate stability, testing and safety requirements to manufacturers so that consumers are provided certified and safe machines for use. The updates are focused on moving North American equipment toward current global standards to reduce variances.

Some of the major changes stemming from the update include terminology changes, platform load sensing technology requirements, new wind force requirements, new stability testing, new railing height requirements, new platform entry requirements and more

Additional information on the new safe use requirements can be found in ANSI A92.22‐2018 and CSA B354.7:17 Standards.

Hugg & Hall Trainer Helps Write New Industry Standards

Hugg & Hall Trainer Helps Write New Industry Standards

Bob Hendricks (third from left)

Bob Hendricks, a trainer at Hugg & Hall Equipment Company (Hugg & Hall), recently assisted the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) write the new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A92 standards, a sweeping update which affects manufacturers, renters, dealers and purchasers/users of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).

“I met on the committees and went over the proposed changes and helped initiate some of the changes,” said Hendricks.

The new regulations replace prior ANSI standards A92.3, A92.5, A92.6 and A92.8 which covered manually propelled aerial, booms, scissors and under-bridge inspection machines. The standards dictate stability, testing and safety requirements to manufacturers so that consumers are provided certified and safe machines for use. The updates are focused on moving North American equipment toward current global standards to reduce variances.

Some of the major changes stemming from the update include terminology changes, platform load sensing technology requirements, new wind force requirements, new stability testing, new railing height requirements, new platform entry requirements and more. Recently, Hendricks noted that some of the most dramatic changes relate to requirements of end-users and supervisors.

“The users and the supervisors having to have more knowledge of how operations work and the risk assessments having to be done,” said Hendricks when asked the biggest change effectuated by the new standards, in his view.

Hendricks believes that the changes were absolutely necessary and that the updated standards will create safer work environments.  

“The risk assessment that the owners/users have to do as well as the risk assessments that the operators have to complete bring more safety,” said Hendricks. “There were too many gray areas created since the last major changes which were more than 20 years ago.”

Hendricks enjoyed assisting the SAIA in writing the standards for ANSI, which will ultimately be enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“I loved it,” said Hendricks. “I felt like I was doing something important.”

Hendricks onboarded as a trainer with the company in 2014 and, throughout his time at Hugg & Hall, has trained more than 800 personnel from companies located in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and more. He has trained for several Fortune 500 companies, including: Siemens, Tyson, Walmart, Cargill, Georgia-Pacific, Firestone Tire, the U.S. Air Force and the Veterans Administration (VA). In addition to these organizations, he has trained for many more small and large businesses/organizations throughout the region.

The company is proud to have Hendricks on their team and thanks him for his hard work and dedication which contributes to safer job sites and a more responsible industry, overall.

ANSI A92: NEW STANDARDS TO REQUIRE CUSTOMER EDUCATION, TRAINING & ENGAGEMENT

ANSI_ NEW REGULATIONS WILL REQUIRE CUSTOMER EDUCATION & TRAINING

Hugg & Hall Equipment Company (Hugg & Hall) is committed to transparency and keeping customers informed of industry updates/regulations to ensure successful transitions and positive experiences.

The importance of educating customers on impact of new standards

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is expected to release new standards for boom and scissor-type lifts, in the coming months. The updated standards have significant implications for the construction, equipment rental and equipment sales industries and will impact prices, training and operations. An important aspect of the implementation will be equipping customers for the change; both for awareness and preparation purposes.

The new regulations are replacing prior ANSI standards A92.3, A92.5, A92.6 and A92.8 which covered manually propelled aerial, booms, scissors and under-bridge inspection machines. The updates are focused on moving North American equipment toward current global standards. The updates to regulation will include: terminology changes, platform load sensing technology requirements, new wind force requirements, new stability testing, new railing height requirements and new platform entry requirements. ANSI and their Canadian counterpart, the Canadian Standards Authority (CSA), are moving toward equipment design standards that will bring North American equipment up-to-date with the current standards implemented in Europe to reduce global variances in the industry.

Educating customers is particularly important because of the, plausibly, profound impact that the new standards will have on equipment operation and prices (on compliant machines). Manufacturers will be forced to invest in production to supply compliant machines within the one-year from implementation limit and the new features and production costs will raise the prices of machines for direct buyers, including rental companies.

The precise impact of the new standards is yet to seen, but it’s clear that the standards will have a significant impact on prices, equipment operation and training procedures. Thus education will be very important to ensure a smooth transition for companies and their customers.

How training will play a part in the implementation of the new standards

Training is expected to play an integral part in the successful implementation of the new A92 standards. New training and familiarization requirements will be implemented under sections A92.22 and A92.24. A significant change to prior requirements is in the new requirement of training occupants and supervisors along with operators. In addition, online theory will be available as an option for operator training.

Occupant training will include the use of fall protection, stability factors, safe use of accessories, work procedures, hazard avoidance, manufacturer warnings/instructions, site risk assessment, general knowledge and basic operation comprehension.

Supervisor training will include proper equipment selection, potential hazards training, applicable rules/regulations/standards and manufacturer operation manuals.

Recently, James Lennartz, Training Manager at Hugg & Hall, spoke on the importance of training as it relates to the ANSI A92 updates.

“We need to make sure that our customers are prepared for the changes so that they do not lose valuable time on their projects,” said Lennartz. “Every single one of our customers are on time schedules to complete their projects and if they are not aware of the coming changes they have the potential to fall behind on the completion date and lose money; their delays cost their customers time and money. A vicious cycle.”

The standards specify requirements for application, inspection, training, maintenance, repair and safe operation of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) formally known as Aerial Work Platforms (AWPs), according to Lennartz.

“Our task as trainers is to ensure that our customers are aware of all changes and how they will affect their daily processes throughout the work day on each jobsite,” said Lennartz. “No one jobsite is the same nor are the conditions at which the MEWPs are being used by our customers. We need to make sure that both operators of MEWPs and their supervisors are able to safely operate and evaluate the use of MEWPs.”

Lennartz elaborated on how Hugg & Hall trainers are strategizing to accomplish these important goals.

“We hope to accomplish this by providing the necessary information in regards to the features, functions, safety devices, equipment limitations and operating characteristics as defined by the manufacturer, utilizing both the standards and operator manuals,” said Lennartz.    

The new ANSI standards will require more customer engagement, which is a primary reason customer education/training, leading up to the implementation of the standards, is essential.

“From what we are seeing the customer is going to have a bigger role in how their operators are using the MEWPs,” said Lennartz.

Customers are expected to be more involved in areas such as safe use planning, records retention, personnel qualifications, training requirements and rescue from height plans, according to Lennartz.

“Personnel operating MEWPs will be trained based on the classification of equipment that they will operate as equipment will be divided into different types and groups,” said Lennartz.

Though the new standards are yet to be released, the Hugg & Hall team is committed to keeping customers educated on upcoming industry changes and is dedicated to providing the needed support and resources.