Hire and Rental News - August 2019

ACCESS IN ACTION Global interaction drives success M ost of you would now be aware the EWPA of Australia has formalised a working agreement with IPAF (International Powered Access Federation). That means we can work more closely, sharing knowledge, documents and initiatives for the benefit of global safety within the MEWP industry. The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) follows the hard work of the EWPA Board and CEO James Oxenham. Special thanks to Tim Nuttall and Rick Mustillo for their experience and time lent to make it all come together. The agreement with IPAF will create better synergies between the organisations as we strive to benefit members of the EWPA and the access industry in Australia. With the 2019 HRIA Convention behind us, I thought it would be timely to report on some of the events, meetings and industry recognition achieved during the Convention period. Immediately prior to HIRE19, the EWPA held its third Global Access Meeting. We had speakers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Worksafe Victoria, US and European manufacturers. President’s message Attending were international guests from around the world, as well as the meeting room filled with Association members and visitors to the Convention. After an update from the EWPA, we had a number of speakers lined up. David Swan from Skyjack, Canada, presented an overview of telematics and digitisation. Peter Davis from Coates Hire gave us and update on international and Australian Standards. Chris Dowson, the EWPA exchange participant from Horizon Platforms in the UK, provided a look at the UK access market, what is happening with Brexit and how Horizon Platforms has grown since its launch in 2008. Tony Cockerell from WorkSafe Victoria took us through the Construction Program’s safety initiatives, including campaigns, stakeholder meetings and resources available for the access industry. OEMs from North America and Europe presented the latest safety developments on their machines. Paul Robinson from EWPA NZ provided an update on the access industry in New Zealand and their Association’s work. In addition to the Global Access meeting, we had an interesting meeting with CPB Contractors who explained its approach to the safe operation of scissor lifts on its sites. The EWPA had manufacturers and rental companies attend the meeting to hear the direction CPB is taking and to discuss with them the advancements in safety in the access industry both here in Australia and overseas. The EWPA Board will continue to meet with all stakeholders to focus on the safe operation of access equipment. Finally, after the excellent exhibition, the meetings, keynote speakers, networking and socialising, we concluded with the HRIA Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner. The notable award winners within the MEWP industry this year were; • Haulotte winning access Supplier of the Year; • Skyjack the winner of Best New Product; • Peter Davis was announced winner of the Dave Single Award for Services to the Industry; • Chris Taylor awarded a posthumous award for his contribution to the EWPA and TSHA, prior to his recent passing. Thank you for your continued support of the EWPA, I look forward to catching up again with many of you at state meetings and events throughout the year. Doug Rawlings President EWPA Safe Work Australia’s latest statistical report on work-related deaths in Australia shows 3,414 workers have died from 2003 to 2016; 39% of worker fatalities were due to a vehicle collision (2003 to 2016); and in 2016, there were 182 worker fatalities, equating to a fatality rate of 1.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers; the lowest rate since the series began in 2003. In 2016, half (50%) of worker fatalities occurred within the transport, postal and warehousing and agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, and over the 10 year period from 2007 to 2016, 64% of worker fatalities involved vehicles, of which just over 45% were due to a vehicle collision on a public road. Interestingly, over the 10 year period, 12% of work fatalities resulted from falls from a height; 5% from being trapped by moving machinery; 4% from contact with electricity; and 4% from being trapped between stationary and moving objects. According to Safe Work Australia, as at 16 May, there have been 56 Australian workers killed at work in 2019. n Visit: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ statistics-and-research/statistics/fatalities/ fatality-statistics for more information and to access the full report. Work related traumatic injury fatality statistics from Safe Work Australia P28 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS AUGUST 2019