IPAF MEWP Operator flashcards
IPAF MEWP Operator · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Category 1B
- Boom-supported MEWP that cannot travel with the platform elevated; the machine is repositioned stowed and then elevated on station, unless the manufacturer's rating and route assessment allow otherwise.
- Category 3A
- Scissor-type MEWP that can travel with the platform elevated, limited to firm, level ground within the manufacturer's rated slope and floor-loading limits.
- Category 3B
- Scissor-type MEWP restricted to travel with the platform lowered; the machine is driven stowed and then elevated on station before work begins.
- Category 1A
- Push-around vertical lift with no rotating structure extending beyond the chassis; it is moved manually and elevated only when stationary on firm ground.
- MCWP standard
- Mast climbing work platforms are covered by EN 1495 rather than EN 280; they are temporarily installed machines that climb a mast and are not MEWPs.
- Construction hoist standards
- Personnel and materials hoists follow EN 12159; materials-only hoists follow EN 12158. Personnel must never ride on a materials-only hoist.
- Emergency lowering methods
- Depending on the model, emergency lowering uses an auxiliary hydraulic pump, a manual descent valve, or a brake release; the operator must know the specific model's method.
- Restraint lanyard
- A short lanyard that keeps the operator inside the platform and prevents ejection over the guardrail; it is a restraint, not a fall-arrest system.
- Thorough examination
- Periodic inspection of a MEWP by a competent person at statutory intervals and after alteration or repair; the report is kept available at the point of use.
- Exclusion zone
- A barriered area beneath and around the platform covering the full working radius, including the sweep of a rotating boom, kept clear of personnel.
- Familiarisation
- Model-specific instruction covering controls, load chart, emergency lowering, restraints, and interlocks, recorded before the operator uses that machine.
- Group and type logic
- Group 1 cannot travel elevated; group 3 can. Type A has no rotating structure extending beyond the chassis; type B is a boom or rotating structure.
- MCWP tie spacing
- Mast ties to the structure are engineered at specified vertical intervals; spacing and anchor design come from the manufacturer or a competent engineer, never improvised.
- Suspension trauma
- A person hanging in a harness after a fall must be rescued quickly and kept horizontal; time from suspension to rescue is critical.
- Spreader plate
- A stiff plate placed under a wheel or outrigger pad to increase contact area and reduce pressure on a slab or ground of marginal capacity.
- Pothole protection device
- A device that deploys automatically on elevation of a scissor lift; if damaged or blocked, the machine is taken out of service until repaired.
- Entrapment risk
- Crushing between the platform and an overhead structure is a recognised fatal risk; keep clear and use a spotter where visibility is limited.
- Working height
- Platform height plus operator reach, commonly about two metres; the machine's rated working height must exceed the task requirement.
- Hoist landing interlock
- A device preventing car movement unless all landing doors and car gates are closed and locked; defeating it to speed loading is prohibited.
- Rated wind speed
- The manufacturer's maximum wind speed for operating the platform; stop when it is reached, accounting for funnelling and gusts at height.
- Machine logbook
- A record kept with the machine containing inspection and examination records and the manufacturer's manual, available at the point of use.
- Boom MEWP reach
- Articulated booms reach over obstacles, telescopic booms give greater horizontal reach, and trailer-mounted booms are towable but not self-propelled.
- Overload interlock
- A device preventing lifting beyond rated capacity; if it activates, report and isolate the machine rather than resetting and continuing without assessment.
- Uniformly distributed load
- The basis on which platform capacity is usually rated; concentrated loads on guardrails or deck edges must be spread to avoid local overstress.
- Power line contact
- If the platform contacts an energised line, stay in the platform, warn others away, and wait until the line is isolated before moving.
- Hoist free-standing height
- The height of mast above the top tie is limited by the manufacturer's data and must never be exceeded during erection or use.
- MCWP climbing restriction
- Personnel must not be on the platform during climbing unless the manufacturer's procedure explicitly permits it.
- Daily pre-use inspection
- A recorded check of tyres, outriggers, guardrails, gates, decals, fluids, leaks, emergency stops, and tilt and overload interlocks before the first lift.
- Carbon monoxide risk
- Combustion-powered machines must not exhaust into enclosed or partially enclosed spaces; battery machines are preferred indoors.
- Rescue plan
- A prepared and briefed means of lowering an incapacitated operator from the platform before work starts; calling emergency services alone is not a plan.
- Ground bearing check
- Verification of slab or ground capacity against wheel and outrigger point loads, with an engineer's check where capacity is uncertain.
- Modification approval
- Attachments, extra signage, or repairs affecting stability, capacity, or controls require manufacturer approval and re-rating before the machine is used.