29.04.2005

When should you wear a Harness?

IPAF Technical Guidance Note: H1
Safety Harnesses in Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

1.Boom type lifts

It is strongly recommend that a full body harness with an adjustable lanyard (used to provide work restraint and adjusted to be as short as possible) is used when working from a boom type Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP).

This would include: Self Propelled Booms (SPB), Trailer Push-around (TP), Vehicle Mounted Platforms (VMP26 & 100) and (IAD)


2. Vertical lifts

It is not normally necessary for personnel working from a vertical lift to wear fall protection equipment, other than in exceptional circumstances.

This would include: Scissor Lifts (SL) and Vertical Personnel Platforms (VPP)


The need for a fall protection system will be the outcome of a job specific risk assesment undertaken prior to work commencing.


For information on preventing falls and the use of harness and lanyards in MEWPs see:

•HSE Information Leaflet MISC614 "Preventing falls from boom-type mobile elevating platforms." (available from the HSE website atlink[http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/fallindx.htm](www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/fallindx.htm)