Elevating working platforms industry minimum standards introduced

11 November 2005

The independent inspection of elevating work platforms (EWPs) is to be standardised for the first time.

Department of Labour health and safety chief advisor Mike Cosman said the EWP industry had been looking to improve the assessment process for working platforms, which had led to the development of the first industry standard qualification for inspectors of EWPs.

The Standard of Proficiency for the Certification of Elevating Work Platforms Assessors was completed in May 2005. From 2006, the qualification for those issuing EWP safety certificates will be implemented.

The certification will be gradually phased in over the next year, allowing the EWP industry time to update its practices. The timeline for these changes is:

• October 2005 First CBIP EWP inspector examinations
• January 2006
  • First EWP safety certificates issued
  • CBIP inspectors will begin issuing safety certificates
• April 2006
  • Second round of inspection examinations
  • Second round of CBIP examinations
• June 2006 Most certificates issued will be CBIP
• January 2007 Non-CBIP inspectors not recognised 'as of right' by Department of Labour.

Mr Cosman said while there was no mandatory requirement under current HSE legislation for those carrying out EWP inspections to become CBIP-certified, it was something the Department encouraged.

"This will provide greater consistency and assurance on the quality of inspections being carried out."

Mr Cosman said a number of major EWP users had announced their intention to only allow EWPs bearing these certificates onto their sites as soon as the certificates became available.

"It's important that from now on, businesses also ensure that those workers required to operate EWPs are trained and competent to use them."