At the 2025 IPAF Summit held in Dublin on 13 March, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) announced the launch of its Global Safety Campaign for 2025, titled Stop Overturns – Safety Starts on the Ground!
Using data from their global Accident Reporting Portal, IPAF’s annual safety campaign highlights an important message for those in the powered access industry. This year’s campaign aims to raise awareness that mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) overturn situations do cause serious and fatal incidents, they can often lead to ejection from the platform of the operator and occupants, and lead to complex rescue scenarios for those trapped at height during a partial overturn.
Led by Brian Parker, Head of Safety & Technical at IPAF and Alana Paterson, Head of Health, Safety & Environment at Taylor Woodrow & Chair of the IPAF International Safety Committee, the campaign emphasises when overturns occur, the hazards and risks – from injuries and fatalities to disruption of worksite and psychological impact – along with ways to manage and minimise the risks.
The latest statistics informing this year’s campaign revealed that:
- In the last decade, 108 fatalities, 64 major injuries, and 25 minor injuries, were reported and attributed to overturns incidents involving MEWPs. 64% of overturns were reported from North America, 18% from Europe, and 22% from Asia.
- The occupation most affected was MEWP operators, with a small number from delivery drivers, technicians/engineers, company staff and the public.
- Of these, 108 recorded fatalities 52 were recorded in 2021-2023, and 33% of overturns happened on a 3A mobile scissor, followed by 1B static boom (28%), 3B mobile boom (23%) and 1B static boom (12%).
- Fatal overturns increased by 50% from January 2021 to December 2023.
- Instability leading to overturn is commonly among the top four industry causes of lost time incidents (LTIs) annually.
- MEWP overturns typically occur during setup, travel, or operation on inadequate or unsuitable ground or floor conditions. They can also occur while moving category 3A and 3B MEWPs across unsuitable terrain in either the elevated or stowed positions.
- The most common places for incidents to occur are construction premises, public areas, roads and highways, and rental yards.
- Non-fatal injury types result in fracture, concussion, bruising, impact pains, and cuts and lacerations.
Recognising the global reach of the campaign, IPAF has developed new industry guidance: The Assessment of Ground Conditions and Supporting Structures for The Safe Use of MEWPs. It is split into two parts: guidance for MEWP users, with sections on dewatering, suspended floors, and temporary works, and guidance for MEWP operators, focusing on the MEWP travelling on uneven ground, elevated, stowed position, slopes and positioning.
Reflecting on the Global Safety Campaign release, IPAF’s Head of Safety & Technical, Brian Parker, commented: “MEWP overturns continue to be a major cause of serious injuries and fatalities in our industry. With the launch of IPAF’s 2025 Global Safety Campaign – Stop Overturns: Safety Starts on the Ground! – we are reinforcing a crucial message: ground conditions matter. By understanding the risks and implementing proper safety measures, we can prevent overturns, protect lives, and create safer work environments worldwide. Let’s work together to make a measurable impact and aim for a measurable decrease in MEWP overturns globally.”
As the campaign launches, IPAF urges industry participation, implementation of recommended safety measures, and the reporting of incidents to facilitate ongoing safety improvements. Together, we can prevent and reduce overturns incidents and safeguard the well-being of operators and platform occupants in MEWPs.
For more information about Stop Overturns – Safety Starts on the Ground! and other IPAF safety campaigns, visit www.ipaf.org/safe
