Lifting and Lowering

Positioning

There are various factors that your trainee needs to consider when positioning a MEWP.

The ground conditions on which a MEWP rests should be examined prior to operating it. MEWPs should be operated on level ground surfaces which are stable and will not compress under the weight of the MEWP. These factors should have been considered during the risk assessment in the preparation portion of the evaluation.

Depending on the MEWP your trainee is using, it may require the use of outriggers or jacks. You’ll need to consider this during the evaluation and score them on determining that their use is required as well as if they use them correctly.

Your trainee will need to ensure the MEWP is not located within close proximity to trenches, excavations, additional soil, or excavated material. They also need to watch out for cracking on the ground of a back-filled trench.

It’s best that you evaluate the area where you’re trainees will be positioning the MEWP before you begin the evaluation. This way, you’ll be familiar with all factors that your trainees will need to consider, making it easier for you to assess their performance.

Controls and Movements

As we mentioned previously, you’ll need to monitor the operator’s use of controls throughout the evaluation to ensure that, not only they’re using them correctly, but smoothly as well. This is particularly important during the lifting and lowering due to the increased potential for dynamic forces affecting stability while a platform is raised or boom extended.

Trainees should be operating controls smoothly both while lifting and lowering. In certain circumstances, they may also need to make shorter more frequent movements as opposed to a single long movement.

As mentioned a few times already, some of these movements may be jerky at first as the operator may be nervous during the evaluation, especially towards the beginning.

Remain patient and give your trainee some times to relax and get comfortable with the controls. In most cases, this will result in smoother movements while lifting and lowering the platform or boom.

Articulating Boom Sequence

If your trainee is operating a MEWP with an articulating boom, it’s important that they understand the correct sequence for extending and retracting the boom. Doing so in the incorrect sequence can compromise the MEWPs stability and increase the chances of a tip-over.

Review the MEWP operator’s manual to become familiar with the sequence so that you can correctly evaluate your trainee.

Because incorrectly extending a boom can compromise the stability of the MEWP, it’s best to have the operator tell you what sequence they’re going to use for the boom PRIOR to making them. If they are correct, you can have them proceed. If they tell you the incorrect sequence, you can review the correct steps with them prior to having them proceed.