Hire and Rental News - November 2015

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36 ACCESS IN ACTION • NOVEMBER 2015
ACCESS in ACTION
They also require a higher level of testing,
known as Acceptance testing every
10 years, and also after an incident or
rebuild.
“In order for the re-testing of an Insulated
EWP to go smoothly and ensure the
maximum probability of achieving a
pass result for an asset, it is important
to present the unit in a clean and well-
prepared state,”Andre said.
Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal is a national company
specialising in HV Testing, including
insulated EWP testing, and has years of
experience in compliance testing. Some
tips from Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal’s Andre
Borell to help prepare prior to testing
include:
As per the AS/NZS1418.10:2011 National
Standard, testers are required to test
the Mobile Elevated Working Platform
(MEWP) as it is presented to the testing
service provider; therefore it is important
the MEWP is clean and free of any visual
damage prior to test.
When cleaning your MEWP, wash the
inside and outside of all insulating inserts
at least 48 hours before testing.
Moisture can be a leading cause of test
failures. In order to assist with the drying
process, elevate the boom in the air to
reduce the drying time.
Don’t wash the MEWP within 12 hours
of any scheduled test because it may not
dry in time and will more than likely fail
the electrical tests.
Polish the surface of the boom to ensure
the water sprayed onto the inserts during
the wet tests will bead over the surface,
as opposed to pooling into a big puddle.
Water pooling is not recommended and
can also lead to failure. Products such
as PolyWater BoomWash, distributed by
Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal, are ideal for this task.
Visually inspect the MEWP for any
damaged or missing covers. If necessary
replace or repair them prior to testing.
This includes but is not limited to chips,
and cracks.
“Unfortunately, testing providers cannot
do this work for you, due to the drying
times required, and also the wording of
the standard,”Andre said.
Periodic testing of insulated EWPs
According to Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal CEO and founder, Andre Borell, electrically insulated
EWPs require regular, six monthly, re-testing as per AS/NZS1418.10:2011 to ensure the
insulation properties are still providing protection to workers in the bucket.
“As such, it is vital
this is done by you,
prior to testing, and
allowing enough
time for drying.
“It is also important
to note rain or even
high humidity can
adversely affect
testing results. As a
general rule, a truck
that has been in
the rain within 24
hours of a test, will
more than likely
not pass electrical
tests. This can
be even longer in
high humidity or
cold temperatures, where drying times
are extended further. As such, wherever
possible, it is suggested to store an EWP
in a dry safe environment leading up to
testing.
“EWP testing, even when using an expert
external service provider like Mobile
Test ‘n’ Cal, still requires preparation
and planning to ensure a pass result.
This information will help maximise the
chances of a pass,”Andre said.
Contact: 07 3282 0007 or visit website:
Entered as the Health and Safety
Invention of the Year, the EWP Incident
Investigation Document can be used
as a checklist to gather information
regarding EWP incidents in Australia.
Created by Dave Single,Work Platform
and Telehandler Industry Consultant, the
EWP Incident Investigation Document
fills a crucial hole in the access industry.
According to Dave, there was no
incident investigation document
available for incidents with EWPs and
there was also critical information
missing from reports because the
inspectors/investigators may not have
the experience with each type of EWP.
“With EWPs differing in age and
technology, old machines perform
EWP Incident Investigation Document
going for Gold
differently and safety devices are
different. After 40 years working with
manufacturers, I had the opportunity to
use my knowledge and experience to
propose, develop and finalise a completed
document,” Dave said.
“With review input from a group of 12
industry experts and agreement from the
EWPA to host the document, it is now
available for a free download from the
EWPA site.”
The annual WorkSafe Awards celebrate
businesses, groups or individuals who
are making a dedicated commitment to
safety, health and wellbeing and return to
work in their workplace. All initiatives are
welcome and no idea is too small.
Visit:
The EWP Incident Investigation Document Issue 1 was
entered into the WorkSafe Victoria Awards 2015 for the
New Invention Award.
Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal is a national company specialising in HV Testing,
including insulated EWP testing