JLG president Frank Nerenhausen

Safety featured strongly on the agenda of the recent International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) Summit held in Washington, DC.

Keynote speaker Jordan Barab, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, told the audience of around 250 that safety is not a luxury: "It's a necessity that every worker deserves."

Barab pointed out that falls from height remain the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the US and many other countries. Preliminary data for 2013 show 574 fatal falls across all industries in the US.

He commended the powered access industry for its commitment to providing safe equipment for work at height, and IPAF for providing training in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese.

Barab announced that OSHA will be turning its attention to aerial lift use in residential construction and also called on IPAF and its members to support OSHA's National Safety Stand-Down which runs from 4 to 15 May 2015. This is a major effort to prevent falls in construction through education and awareness that will involve some three million workers across the US.

Meanwhile, Frank Nerenhausen, president of JLG, demonstrated some practical moves towards safety, showing how wearables, augmented reality and remote operation could be harnessed in a powerful system of prevention and control.

Nerenhausen also underlined the value of human education and intervention: "Training must continue to play a prominent role as our industry advances," he said.

The Washington event included a ceremony to announce the winners of the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs).

The 2015 IAPA winners are:

Access rental company of the year: Mateco, Germany
Contribution to safe working at height: HSS Hire, UK
Outstanding customer service: NES Rentals, USA
Powered access pioneer: Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, China
Product of the year (low-level access): Faraone Industrie, Italy, for the Elevah 40 Move
Product of the year (mast climbing work platforms/hoists): Maber Costruzioni, Italy, for the construction hoist MB A 2000/150
Product of the year (self-propelled - booms, scissors, atrium lifts): Holland Lift International, Netherlands, for the Hybrid HL-275 H25 4WD/P/N
Product of the year (vehicle/trailer-mounted): Palfinger Platforms, Germany, for the P480
Project of the year: Scanclimber, Finland, and Scan-Rent and PMB Façade Technology, Malaysia
IPAF training centre of the year: A-Plant, UK
IPAF training instructor of the year: Hansen Ng Wee Han, BS Technology, Singapore
Access photograph of the year: Jo Till, director at GT Access, UK
IPAF and Access International lifetime achievement award: Raymond Smith, USA