For the first half of the year, there have been 23 fatalities involving aerial work platforms (AWPs) reported worldwide, according to the International Powered Access Federation’s (IPAF) half-year results for its accident reporting project.

Of these fatalities, more than half occurred in the U.S. (13), two in Germany, and one each in Australia, Austria, Columbia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and the UK. 

The main causes of these fatalities were:

• overturn (9)

• fall from height (8)

• entrapment (3)

• electrocution (2)

• technical/mechanical (1)

One of the entrapment fatalities involved a person on the ground being crushed between the base of the AWP and another structure. 

Eleven of the fatalities involved mobile booms, 10 involved static booms, and in two cases, the machine type was unconfirmed, according to IPAF.

IPAF’s accident reporting project was launched in January 2012 and has filled a gap where there was previously no single mechanism for reporting and analyzing serious accidents involving AWPs and no definitive data on the number and main causes of fatal accidents. In 2013, there were 53 reported fatalities worldwide involving AWPs.

All manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users are encouraged to report any known fatal and serious accidents involving AWPs and mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs) worldwide at the IPAF accident database. The project is open to IPAF members and non-members, and includes an option for anonymous reporting. To register and to report an accident involving an AWP or an MCWP, go to IPAF Accident Database.

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