HSENI Safety Alert – Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWPs)

Introduction

HSENI have been informed of a serious technical fault with MCWPs which are used widely across construction projects and other industries to access and maintain large plant.

The HSE in Great Britain has discovered that some MCWPs are not fitted with suitable and sufficient controls to manage the risk of the platform falling with overspeed.

Issue

MCWPs could fall from height if faults in drive units go undetected, if not rectified quickly, the fault could cause serious injury, or even death.

This safety alert has information and advice on what to do if you supply, install, use, inspect, service, maintain or examine MCWPs for use at work.

Outline of the problem

MCWPs, also known as ‘mast climbers’, are used in industries where high-level access and maintenance are required, they can be used as an alternative to traditional scaffolding. They can lift platforms with people and equipment and in some cases they are used to provide both access and a work platform.

HSE in Great Britain have discovered that some MCWPs, which rely on two independent motor drive units per mast to prevent the platform falling with overspeed, are not fitted with suitable and sufficient controls to manage the risk.

This means if mechanical faults in drive units go undetected the platform could fall from height. If not rectified quickly, the fault could cause serious injury, or even death.

Malfunctions in drive units which endangers proper function are foreseeable and unless there is a means of detecting such malfunctions there is a risk of platforms falling with overspeed.

Action required

You should immediately check the necessary control measures are in place for all MCWPs in use, or available for use, at a workplace.

If the control measures are not in place you need to withdraw the MCWPs from use until those responsible for supply, installation, use, inspection, servicing, maintenance and thorough examination of MCWPs ensure that:

• a loss of mechanical failure in each drive unit can be detected, where this is the system to prevent falling with overspeed
• each individual drive unit is fitted with a mechanical device that automatically prevents the work platform descending at excessive speed - for example, centrifugal brake
• there is a means to prevent damage to drive units caused by platforms being powered in buffers / frames
• platforms and associated equipment are not damaged by physical overloading
• thorough examinations, inspections and tests and visual and functional checks are appropriately carried out

Further information

Additional information regarding this can be found on the HSE (GB) website using the link below:

• Mast climbing work platforms: Failure to detect mechanical failure in drive units leading to uncontrolled fall of platforms - (hse.gov.uk)

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