The Definition of Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP)

Definition of Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP)

A mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) is a machine with a work platform that can be raised to let people work at height, and that can be moved from place to place. Common types include scissor lifts, vertical mast lifts, articulating boom lifts, telescopic boom lifts and truck-mounted bucket trucks. In the United States, MEWPs were formerly called aerial work platforms (AWPs) or aerial lifts.

MEWPs are widely used in construction, maintenance, warehousing, utilities, film production and facilities management because they are often safer and faster than ladders or scaffolds for short-term work at height. However, they also bring serious risks, including tip-overs, falls from the platform, crushing against overhead structures and electrocution from power lines.

In the United States, the ANSI/SAIA A92 standards, updated in 2018, set requirements for MEWP design, safe use and training. OSHA addresses aerial lifts in 29 CFR 1910.67 and 1926.453 and scaffolding in 1926 Subpart L. Internationally, ISO 18893 and ISO 18878 cover safe use and operator training, and the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) provides widely recognized operator training.

MEWP Groups and Types

• Group A: the platform stays within the tipping lines of the machine, such as scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts.
• Group B: the platform can move outside the tipping lines, such as boom lifts and bucket trucks.
• Type 1: can only be driven when stowed.
• Type 2: can be driven when raised, controlled from the chassis.
• Type 3: can be driven when raised, controlled from the platform.

Key MEWP Hazards and Controls

Hazards

• Tip-overs: caused by soft or sloping ground, potholes, overloading, high winds or driving with the platform raised over uneven surfaces.
• Falls from the platform: from leaning over guardrails, climbing on rails or being thrown out when the machine jolts.
• Entrapment and crushing: being pinned between the platform controls and an overhead beam or structure.
• Electrocution: contacting or coming too close to overhead power lines. See minimum approach distance.
• Struck-by: falling tools or materials, and collisions with vehicles or pedestrians.

Controls

• Planning: choose the right MEWP for the job and check ground conditions, overhead hazards and wind limits before use.
• Inspection: do a pre-use inspection and function test each shift, and keep up with frequent and annual inspections. See workplace inspection.
• Fall protection: keep guardrails and gates closed, stand on the platform floor and wear a full-body harness with a restraint lanyard attached to the designated anchor in boom lifts. See fall protection.
• Load limits: never exceed the rated platform capacity, including people, tools and materials.
• Exclusion zones: barricade the area below and around the MEWP.
• Rescue plan: have a plan and trained ground personnel to lower the platform in an emergency.
• Training: operators must be trained and familiarized with the specific model, and supervisors and occupants must also be trained under ANSI A92.

Example of MEWP

A maintenance contractor was replacing light fixtures in a factory using an articulating boom lift. The operator noticed that the route to one fixture passed under a steel beam that left little clearance above the platform controls.

Following the site's MEWP plan, the operator stopped, discussed the risk with the supervisor and repositioned the lift to approach the fixture from a different angle. The lift was also fitted with a secondary guarding device that stops movement if the operator is pushed against the controls. The job was finished without anyone working near the entrapment point.

Frequently Asked Questions: MEWP

Is a scissor lift a MEWP?

Yes. A scissor lift is a Group A MEWP, because its platform moves straight up and stays within the machine's tipping lines.

Do you need a harness in a scissor lift?

OSHA generally considers a scissor lift's guardrails to be adequate fall protection, but some employers and manufacturers require harnesses. In boom lifts, a body harness and lanyard attached to the designated anchor is required.

Who can operate a MEWP?

Only workers who have been trained, evaluated and familiarized with the specific type and model of MEWP should operate it.