Facilities Operations and
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Development
(614) 292-1284 ehs@osu.edu
MEWP
Rescue
Plan
MEWP Rescue Plan
The use of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP’s) on site are a potentially dangerous
operation. Under normal circumstances the backup systems built in to the machine will allow the
operator to bring the platform safely down to floor level under controlled conditions.
This plan applies to MEWPs which are equipped with the following three types of control:
1. Operator Controls (In the basket)
2. Ground Controls (Usually positioned on the side of the machine at ground level, to be used if
the basket controls fail or cannot be used)
3. Emergency Auxiliary Controls (Under the site panels of the machine at ground level, only to
be used if the basket and ground controls fail)
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Environmental Health and Safety MEWP
Rescue Plan
In case of an emergency, see below rescue plans for differing situations:
Emergency
Rescue Plan
Situation
1. Failure of basket control
functions while elevated Where the normal upper control functions fail, a suitably trained operative will utilize the auxiliary
controls from the platform to lower the boom back down to safety.
If both sets of controls fail to work, a suitably trained operative will return the person stranded back to
2. Failure of basket
ground level using the emergency auxiliary controls. Should the steel work impede
controls and ground
lowering to the ground level, operatives should be lowered to the nearest safe working platform,
controls
i.e. installed decking. A footed ladder can be used to assist exit from the basket.
3. Failure of basket, Should both of the back-up controls fail, the machine supplier should be contacted immediately
ground, and auxiliary requesting an engineer be sent to site to lower the basket. Every effort should be made to keep the
controls operator calm.
If the operative is unconscious within the basket at height, the emergency services must be contacted
4. Unconscious operative
immediately on 911 and the Supervisor informed. The basket should then be lowered in accordance with
within the basket
the rescue plans stipulated between situations 1, 2, or 3.
If the operative is suspended by their work restraint lanyard, the emergency services must be contacted
immediately on 911 and the principal contractor informed. Action must be taken quickly to get the
suspended operative to the ground level as soon as possible.
Option A (Lower to the ground) - Lower the basket using the ground controls providing it is safe to do so
and there are no obstructions between the suspended operative and the ground.
Option B (Mid-air rescue) - If there is an obstruction between the suspended operative and the ground
and Option A is not feasible, steps must be taken to support the weight of the suspended operative, to
release pressure caused by the work restraint PPE.
5. Person thrown from
The procedure should be as follows:
the basket but is
conscious
Step 1 - Instruct the suspended operative to raise their knees towards their chest if they can. This will
assist to reduce the buildup of toxins in their blood.
Step 2 - Instruct the closest MEWP operator to maneuver their MEWP basket below the suspended
operative so that they can approach the operative from below.
Step 3 - The basket of the rescuing MEWP should be slowly elevated to the height of where the
suspended operative is. Once in the basket, the operative’s work restraint can be removed, and the
rescued operative must sit on the floor of the basket.
Step 4 - Both individuals can be lowered to ground level and exit the basket.
6. Person thrown from
This is the worst-case scenario. The emergency services must be contacted immediately on 911 and the
the basket and is
Supervisor informed. Rescue to proceed as per situation 5.
unconscious
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