IPAF - MEWP Harness Awareness Training Course

1. MEWP Harness Fundamentals and Regulatory Framework

• Fall protection principles including (fall arrest, fall restraint, work positioning, fall prevention)

• IPAF standards including (technical bulletins, safety guidelines, training requirements, certification)

• EN 365 and ANSI standards including (equipment standards, testing requirements, certification procedures)

• Harness classifications including (full body harness, chest harness, sit harness, rescue harness)

• Legal requirements including (workplace regulations, duty of care, enforcement, liability)

2. Harness Components and Construction

• Harness materials including (webbing materials, hardware components, stitching standards, durability requirements)

• Component identification including (D-rings, buckles, padding, adjustment points, inspection points)

• Construction standards including (load distribution, strength requirements, comfort features, quality control)

• Compatibility requirements including (MEWP attachment points, lanyard connections, rescue equipment)

• Marking and labeling including (manufacturer information, certification marks, inspection dates, user instructions)

3. Harness Selection and Fitting

• Selection criteria including (work application, equipment compatibility, user requirements, environmental conditions)

• Sizing procedures including (body measurements, adjustment ranges, fit verification, comfort assessment)

• Fitting techniques including (donning procedures, adjustment methods, comfort optimization, security checks)

• Compatibility verification including (MEWP platform, attachment points, lanyard systems, rescue equipment)

• User comfort including (pressure point elimination, movement accommodation, long-term wear considerations)

4. Inspection and Maintenance Procedures

• Pre-use inspection including (visual inspection, tactile examination, function testing, rejection criteria)

• Periodic inspection including (detailed examination, documentation, competent person requirements, frequency)

• Inspection criteria including (wear indicators, damage assessment, deterioration signs, replacement requirements)

• Maintenance procedures including (cleaning methods, storage requirements, repair limitations, manufacturer guidance)

• Documentation including (inspection records, maintenance logs, user instructions, certification tracking)

5. MEWP Attachment and Positioning

• Attachment principles including (attachment points, load sharing, fall clearance, swing fall prevention)

• MEWP platform requirements including (anchor points, guard rail systems, attachment locations, load ratings)

• Positioning techniques including (work positioning, travel restraint, fall arrest positioning, rescue positioning)

• Lanyard management including (lanyard selection, length management, tangle prevention, inspection requirements)

• Environmental considerations including (weather conditions, work environment, hazard exposure, safety margins)

6. Emergency Procedures and Rescue

• Emergency scenarios including (equipment failure, medical emergency, entanglement, suspension trauma)

• Self-rescue techniques including (self-recovery, emergency descent, equipment substitution, communication)

• Assisted rescue including (rescue procedures, rescue equipment, team coordination, medical support)

• Suspension trauma including (physiological effects, prevention measures, immediate response, medical treatment)

• Emergency communication including (alarm systems, rescue signals, coordination procedures, external support)

7. Quality Control and Compliance

• Quality assurance including (equipment certification, inspection standards, training verification, audit procedures)

• Regulatory compliance including (workplace standards, equipment standards, training requirements, documentation)

• Performance monitoring including (incident tracking, near miss reporting, equipment performance, user feedback)

• Continuous improvement including (procedure updates, equipment upgrades, training enhancement, best practices)

• Risk management including (hazard identification, risk assessment, control measures, monitoring systems)

8. HSE and Risk Management

• Workplace safety including (hazard identification, risk assessment, control measures, safety culture)

• Health considerations including (ergonomic factors, physical limitations, medical conditions, fitness requirements)

• Environmental factors including (weather conditions, workplace hazards, equipment limitations, emergency preparedness)

• Safety culture including (safety awareness, reporting systems, continuous learning, behavioral safety)

9. Case Studies & Practical Applications

• Regional MEWP operations including (construction applications, maintenance work, industrial operations, emergency response)

• Equipment failure scenarios including (harness failure, MEWP malfunction, rescue situations, emergency procedures)

• Inspection case studies including (damage identification, rejection criteria, maintenance decisions, replacement planning)

• The importance of proper training in ensuring effective harness use and fall protection in MEWP operations