Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) are specialized mechanical devices that provide temporary access to elevated work areas for personnel and their tools. These machines serve as a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional scaffolding or ladders. MEWPs are widely adopted across various sectors, from construction to maintenance. Understanding the mechanics and operational requirements of these platforms is important for anyone involved in work requiring elevation.
Defining Mobile Elevating Work Platforms
A Mobile Elevating Work Platform moves people, materials, and tools to elevated positions. The structure consists of three main components: a stable chassis or base, an extending structure (the lifting mechanism), and a work platform or basket equipped with controls. This design ensures stability and allows for precise positioning.
Industry professionals often refer to these machines by alternative names, including aerial work platform (AWP), elevating work platform (EWP), or simply an aerial device. A common, informal term for certain boom lifts is “cherry picker,” referencing their historical use in fruit harvesting. The official MEWP designation standardizes the terminology to reflect the machine’s core function and mobility.
MEWPs are categorized by how they achieve mobility. Self-propelled units have their own drive systems, allowing the operator to maneuver the machine directly from the platform or the chassis. These are favored on large job sites where frequent movement is necessary.
Towable units are pulled behind a vehicle and stabilized using outriggers before elevation. Vehicle-mounted MEWPs, such as bucket trucks, are permanently fixed to a road vehicle, offering rapid transport and deployment for utility and multi-site projects. The choice between these types depends on the required travel distance, terrain, and frequency of relocation.
Common Types of MEWPs
MEWP designs are classified into three primary types based on their lifting structure. These designs dictate the machine’s movement capabilities and suitability for specific tasks.
Scissor Lifts
Scissor lifts utilize a series of crossed, folding supports that extend vertically to raise a large platform. This design allows the platform to move only straight up and down, keeping the platform within the machine’s chassis footprint. They are characterized by their expansive deck space, which provides ample room for multiple workers, tools, and materials. Scissor lifts are effective for tasks requiring straight-up access and a broad, stable working area, such as installing ceiling fixtures or working along a wall.
Boom Lifts
Boom lifts employ an extendable arm or boom structure that allows for significant horizontal outreach in addition to vertical height. They are separated into two main configurations: telescopic booms, which use straight, single-section arms for maximum reach and height, and articulating booms, which feature multiple hinged sections. Articulating booms, often called knuckle booms, can navigate around obstacles, such as piping or overhangs, making them highly versatile in complex environments. Their ability to extend beyond the machine’s base provides an outreach that scissor lifts cannot achieve.
Vertical Personnel Lifts
Vertical personnel lifts, also known as mast lifts, are designed for compact operation and feature a single vertical mast structure. These lifts are typically smaller and lighter than scissor or boom lifts, often intended for single-person use with a limited amount of tools. Many are manually propelled, meaning they must be pushed into position before the platform is elevated, which makes them ideal for indoor maintenance, warehouse applications, or work in tight, sensitive spaces like gym floors.
Key Applications and Uses
MEWPs play a role in maintaining infrastructure and constructing modern facilities by elevating workers to precise locations. Their ability to quickly reposition and achieve height makes them more efficient than erecting static scaffolding for short-term tasks.
MEWPs are used across several sectors:
- Construction, for installing exterior cladding, setting steel beams, and performing façade work on multi-story buildings.
- Facility maintenance, including servicing overhead HVAC systems, replacing large light fixtures, and cleaning high windows.
- Warehousing and logistics, assisting in inventory management and retrieval from tall shelving units.
- Utility work, such as the repair and inspection of overhead power lines and telecommunications equipment, often using vehicle-mounted boom lifts.
Essential Safety Considerations
Operating MEWPs requires strict adherence to safety protocols due to the risks of working at height. Operator training is required, ensuring only authorized individuals operate the equipment. This training includes practical demonstrations and theoretical instruction on the specific model, with regular renewal to maintain competency.
Before operation, a thorough pre-use inspection is mandatory, checking structural components, hydraulic systems, and safety devices. Operators must also conduct a risk assessment of the work area, identifying hazards such as unstable ground, slopes, debris, and overhead obstructions, including power lines. Maintaining a safe distance from energized electrical conductors is important, as contact or proximity can lead to electrocution.
Fall protection is required, typically meaning workers on boom-type MEWPs must be tethered to a designated anchorage point. Planning for emergency scenarios, including a detailed rescue plan, must be completed before elevation. This multi-layered approach ensures safe operation.