512 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 16-22

Sections

22-8. General Requirements.

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP)

MEWPs must align with ANSI design and construction standards. Operate, inspect, and maintain MEWPs according to manufacturer instructions.
Keep the MEWP's operating manual on the equipment, ensure a proper height-to-base width ratio, and close access doors or chains before operation.
Equip boom-supported MEWPs with a functional, automatic level alarm. Use fall protection as prescribed in chapter 21, and refrain from climbing the rails or operating on energized electrical wiring/equipment.

Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms

Platforms must meet ANSI/SAIA A92.2 standards. Operate, inspect, test, and maintain according to manufacturer instructions, ensuring all safety decals are intact and legible.
When transporting, ensure the boom is properly cradled, outriggers stowed, and inspect for environmental and site hazards. Secure aerial ladders before highway travel.
Adhere to safe operating practices including setting brakes, using wheel chocks on inclines, not exceeding load limits, and ensuring control functionality.

Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWP)

Erect, use, and maintain MCWPs following ANSI, IPAF/SAIA, and manufacturer guidelines. Perform pre-use and daily inspections, ensuring safe surroundings and ground conditions.
Operate MCWPs only by designated, trained personnel. Avoid operation on uneven/sloped surfaces without proper outriggers, and tie MCWPs to structures as required unless freestanding.
Develop an emergency egress plan for elevated positions, refrain from use in windy conditions, and ensure the platform is secured from unauthorized use. Adhere to guarding requirements and do not modify MCWPs without approval.
When the horizontal distance between the wall and platform is less than 14 inches (35.6 cm), then a guardrail is not required.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

22-9. A MCWP guardrail is not required when the horizontal distance between a wall and the platform is _____.

14 inches or less

less than one foot

less than 14 inches

20 inches of less

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 22-8 (m.–q.).

22-8. General Requirements. (m.–q.).

m.  Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP).  (22-8.m)

(1)  All MEWPs must be designed and constructed according to ANSI, as appropriate.

(2)  Operate, inspect, and maintain MEWPs according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(3)  Maintain records of inspections conducted while the unit is at the work.

(4)  Maintain a height-to-base width ratio of the scaffold during movement of 2:1 or less, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(5)  Maintain the elevating MEWPs manufacturer's operating manual readily available on the equipment.

(6)  Do not operate MEWPs until the access door or chains are in the closed position.

(7)  Use fall protection according to chapter 21 of this manual.

(8)  Climbing of the rails is prohibited.
    (9) All boom-supported MEWPs must be equipped with an alarm, or other suitable warning device, at the platform. The alarm must be in operable condition and must automatically activate when the machine base is more than 5° out of level in any direction.

(10)  Do not use MEWPs for work on energized electrical wiring and/or equipment.

(11)  Only operate MEWPs from the ground position in an emergency (rescue), for maintenance, or when unoccupied.

(12) Lift controls must be located below the guardrail height.  When lift controls are not located below the guardrail height, install an aftermarket guard.

n. Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms (Aerial Devices/Lifts). (22-8.n)

(1)  Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms (aerial lifts, to include articulating boom platforms/lifts (knuckle boom lifts), trailer-mounted boom lifts) must be designed and constructed according to ANSI/SAIA A92.2.

(2)  Operate, inspect, test, and maintain vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(a)  Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms must also comply with requirements in chapters 21 and 18.

(b)  Maintain records of inspections conducted while the unit is at the work site.

(d)  If the unit is considered rated, and used as an insulating device, maintain copies of the electrical insulating components and system tests conducted while the unit is at the work site.

(e) All required safety decals, labels, and signs must be in place and legible.

(3) Transporting.

(a)  Do not move aerial lift trucks, to include cherry pickers, when the boom is elevated in a working position with personnel in the basket except for equipment that is specifically designed for this type of operation.  When manufacturers allow mobile operation, the work site must be inspected for the following before movement occurs:

(a-1)  Untamped earth fills (soft ground). (a-2)  Ditches.

(a-3)  Drop-offs and floor obstructions. (a-4)  Debris.

(a-5)  Overhead obstructions and electrical conductors.

(a-6)  Weather conditions.

(a-7) The presence of unauthorized persons.

(b)  Before moving an aerial lift, inspect the boom(s) to see that it is properly cradled and outriggers are in stowed positions, except as provided in paragraph 22-8.n(3) above.

(c)  Secure aerial ladders in the lower traveling position by the locking device on top of the truck cab and the manually operated device at the base of the ladder before the truck is moved for highway travel.

(4)  Operating Practices.

(a)  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for control station operation (for example, primary versus secondary, upper versus lower).

(b)  Set the brakes and position outriggers, when used, on pads or a solid surface.

(d) Test lift controls each day prior to use to ensure safe working condition.

(e)  Lift controls must be located below the guardrail height.  When lift controls are not located below the guardrail height, install an after-market guard.

(f)  Do not exceed boom and basket load limits specified by manufacturer.

(g) Articulating boom and extensible boom platforms, primarily designed as personnel carriers, must have both platform (upper) and lower controls.

(g-1)  Upper controls must be in or beside the platform within easy reach of the operator.

(g-2)  Lower controls must provide for overriding the upper controls.

(g-3)  Controls must be plainly marked as to their function.

(h)  Do not wear climbers (spikes) while performing work from an aerial lift.

(i)  Do not alter in any manner the insulated portion of an aerial lift that might reduce its insulating value.

(j)  Occupants must always stand firmly on the floor of the basket and must not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices for a work position.

o.  Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWP).  (22-8.o)

(1)  Erect, use, inspect, test, maintain, and repair MCWPs according to ANSI A92.9, International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)/SAIA, and the manufacturer’s instructions.

(2)  Conduct a pre-use inspection prior to erecting the work platform according IPAF/SAIA and the manufacturer’s instructions.

(a)  Conduct an overhead inspection to ensure that the MCWP will not come in contact with any obstructions while moving up or down the mast.  Give special attention to high voltage conductors.  Once the voltage of the line(s) is established, adhere to the minimum safe approach distances in table 11-4.

(b)  Conduct an inspection of the ground to ensure that there are no obstacles around the MCWP and in the path of travel (if the unit is on a mobile chassis) such as holes, drop-offs, debris, ditches, or soft fill.  For static and mobile units, compaction will be sufficient to support the static and live loads for the configuration. The perimeter around the base of the unit, matching the length and width of the platform area above, must be identified as restricted access by use of danger signs, tape, fences, or other suitable means.

(3)  Only designated and trained users can operate the MCWP.  Training records must be maintained for at least three years and maintained onsite.  All personnel on the MCWP must be trained according to paragraph 22-3.

(4)  Do not raise the MCWP on uneven or sloped surfaces unless outriggers are used to level the MCWP and the ground is suitable to support the load.

(5)  Raise the MCWPs according to the manufacturer’s recommended free- standing height and outrigger requirement and loading recommendations.  Use
outriggers according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The unit must be level before raising the platform (mast should be plumb and level before vertical movement of platform).

Note.  Not all MCWPs are designed with freestanding capability.  Check the machine and manual to see if the machine being operated has a freestanding height.

(6)  If the unit is on a powered chassis, lower the MCWP to its lowest position prior to being moved. Additionally, move all material and tools from the platform, fully extend and open the outriggers and raise the jacks no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the ground.  When moved into its new working position, the unit must be set up and leveled again before it is elevated. The work platform must remain horizontal within 2 degrees during normal movement of the platform.

(7)  Do not drive a MCWP with the platform elevated or personnel on the platform. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when moving a MCWP to determine the safe mast height for ground conditions, ground slope, and overhead obstructions.

(8) Tie MCWPs to the building (or structure) according to manufacturer’s instructions unless it is designed to be freestanding. A QP must demonstrate the correct anchoring method based on tensile, shear, and torsion forces according to the manufacturer’s instructions and with respect to the strength of the structure to be tied to, following all relevant requirements on installation from the anchor manufacturer’s data.

(9)  Do not use ladders or structures of any kind to increase the size or working height of platform unless specifically designed by the manufacturer for the intended use and all fall hazards have been controlled.

(10) Access.

(a)  Climbing of braces and guardrails is prohibited.  When access ladders, including masts designed as ladders, exceed 20 feet (6.1 m) in height, use fall protection.  (See chapter 21)

(b) All access gates must either close automatically or be electronically interlocked to prevent operation of the MCWP unless they are closed.  Do not use chains or ropes as access gates.

(c)  Prior to use at elevations of 20 feet (6.1 m) or more, develop an emergency egress plan to evacuate workers from a MCWP that gets caught in an elevated position 20 feet (6.1 m) or more above the ground.  If that plan includes descending the mast, all employees working on the MCWP must be provided fall arrest equipment and must be trained in its use.  (See chapter 21)

(11)  Do not raise the MCWP in windy or gusty conditions.

(a)  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to determine maximum in-service wind speed conditions.  A copy of the operator’s manual must be available on the jobsite.

(b) Account for loads and forces according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (12)  Do not alter or modify in any way MCWPs unless approved by the
manufacturer and performed by a QP.

(13) Do not use damaged or malfunctioning machines.  Discontinue operation of damaged equipment until the unit is repaired.

(14) MCWPs must be equipped with a permanently installed device on the work platform to switch off the work platform and secure it from unauthorized use.

(15)  Planking and decking must meet paragraph 22-8.c and 29 CFR 1926.451.

(16)  Guarding

(a) All open sides of the platform must be equipped with a guardrail which can be securely fastened in place.  Secure guardrails according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Guardrails must be able to withstand, without failure, a force of 300 lbs. (136.1 kg), applied in any outward or downward direction.

(b)  If the MCWP is erected towards a wall and the distance is more than 14 inches (35.6 cm), a guardrail is required. The maximum distance between wall and platform may increase to 18 inches (45.7 cm) for plastering and lathing operations. When the horizontal distance between the wall and platform is less than 14 inches (35.6 cm), then a guardrail is not required.

(c) Any MCWP with a travel speed of more than 15 fpm (4.6 m/min) must include a mast guard around at least three sides of the mast. The guard must provide protection from not more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the platform floor to a minimum height of 6.5 feet (1.8 m) above the platform floor and will have no opening larger than 1 in2 (2.5 cm2).  (See ANSI A92.9)

p.  Roofing Bracket Scaffolds (see 29 CFR 1926.452).  (22-8.p)

q.  Stilts (see 29 CFR 1926.452).  (22-8.q)