27.10.2008

New emergency controls symbol

Manufacturer members of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) have agreed on a new symbol that will signpost the location of emergency descent controls.

Emergency descent systems and locations differ widely in terms of where they are located and how they operate. The aim of the new standardised decal is to make it easier for those working around aerial lifts to quickly spot the location of the lower emergency controls. The new symbols will be fitted to new machines, but can also be easily retrofitted to existing units.
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The new emergency controls decal

The new decal should be positioned so that it clearly indicates the location of the emergency descent controls, while operators should ensure that somebody at ground level knows how to use them in an emergency.

Manufacturers can obtain the artwork for the emergency descent symbol for use on their equipment. The artwork can be downloaded from the Resources section of www.ipaf.org. A limited number of free copies are also available from IPAF.

Tim Whiteman, IPAF managing director said: “Even experienced operators sometimes have difficulty locating the emergency descent controls that every mobile elevating work platform is fitted with. This new symbol is a practical visual aid and a prime example of an industry initiative to make access equipment even safer. We encourage manufacturers to fit this as standard on new equipment and rental companies to fit this decal to their existing fleets.”