IPAF’s 2026 Global Safety Campaign “Check It!”

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) last month launched its 2026 Global Safety Campaign, titled “Check It!”, aimed at promoting the critical importance of pre-use inspections, proper maintenance and regular servicing of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs).  

 

This year’s campaign calls on everyone involved in the powered access industry – from operators and managers to rental companies and contractors – to take shared responsibility for safety when working at height.  

 

While powered access remains one of the safest methods for performing temporary work at height, incidents involving mechanical or technical failures can still lead to serious injuries and fatalities. IPAF emphasises that many of these incidents are preventable through consistent inspection routines, proper maintenance, and adherence to safety procedures. 

 

Campaign Focus Areas

 

 

The 2026 “Check It!” campaign highlights key safety priorities, including:  

 

• The hazards associated with technical and mechanical equipment failure  
• The risks of inadequate maintenance, inspection and equipment checks  
• Practical steps to reduce these risks  
• Who is responsible for different types of checks  
• The importance of reporting incidents and near-misses to IPAF to improve global safety data. 

 

Falling statistics

 

 

In 2024, IPAF received eight reports of fatal and major injuries relating to mechanical or technical failures on all types of powered access equipment, with six fatalities reported.  This data happily represents a 33% year-on-year decrease in reports and a 45% year-on-year decrease in fatalities.  With this in mind, IPAF’s campaign aims to raise awareness while providing practical, actionable guidance for industry professionals to help reduce risks and prevent incidents across the industry. 

 

As part of this campaign, IPAF has released the following new guidance:  

 

• Guidance On Buying a Pre-Owned MEWP  
• The Principles of Service, Maintenance & Inspections of Powered Access Equipment  
• Toolbox Talk: Pre-Delivery Inspections of MEWPs (Rental)  
• Andy Access poster: Pre-Hire Inspections  
• Andy Access poster: Check Your MEWP  

 

The International Powered Access Federation

 

 

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is a global organisation, with its official worldwide headquarters located in Cumbria, UK.  IPAF also operates regional offices and representatives globally, with a European/international administrative branch based in Basel, Switzerland.   The purpose of IPAF is to promote and enable the safe and effective global use of powered access equipment.  It achieves this by providing technical advice, creating safety initiatives, and administering internationally recognised training programs for operators of equipment like scissor lifts and boom lifts. 

 

The IPAF training programme is globally recognised, developed by leading industry professionals and available in multiple languages across a worldwide network of more than 845 IPAF Approved Training Centres.  IPAF training courses help organisations keep employees safe and employers legally compliant. 

The comprehensive range of classroom and e-Learning courses cover mobile work platforms including booms, scissor, mast climbing, and construction hoists.  Courses are aimed at operators, service technicians, delivery drivers, managers/supervisors, demonstrators, installers and instructors. 

IPAF is a non-profit membership organisation, primarily funded by training income (which accounts for about 81% of its revenue), followed by membership fees from over 2,000 corporate and individual members, and certification services. 

 

Not your problem? 

 

You may be thinking that your staff work in a low-risk environment, perhaps office-based, but don’t forget your landlord or facilities manager may well be commissioning exterior work on the building fabric including roof repairs, window maintenance or façade cleaning, using MEWP’s.  Keep an eye on them as one nasty incident could impact on your organisation! 

 

How Arinite helps

 

 

Arinite provides its clients with Health and Safety for Directors and Managers Training to help your leadership team understand, and act on, their responsibilities.