Action from the HSE comes eight months after Rick Jaeger-Fozard, foreman at Kimberly Access’ Iver depot, was killed when the Genie Z135/70 he was operating toppled over.
In November the International Powered Access Federation wrote to the government expressing ‘extreme concern’ at the lack of communication from the HSE about what lessons should be learned.
The HSE has now issued a safety bulletin that effectively reiterates the guidance put out by the manufacturer after the accident. The HSE notice warns that “the operational stability of a Genie Z135/70 MEWP may be compromised by the incorrect measurement of the boom angle sensors”.
To prevent the Z135/70 model machine operating outside its stability limits, the onboard control system monitors the elevation of the secondary boom to prevent it from telescoping outwards until its elevation is sufficient. But the control system relies on the correct setting of the elevation of each boom to maintain the effective operational stability of the machine.
The manufacturer, Terex Genie, issued its own safety notice on 29th July 2013, which required the immediate removal of all Z135/70 platforms from service until they had been checked.
The HSE notice states: “The manufacturer’s safety notice should be followed. Any machines for which the required calibration checks have not been completed should be removed from service. Following the completion of checks, the machines should continue to be inspected, serviced and maintained as per the manufacturer’s requirements.
“Work regarding the manufacturer’s safety notice should only be carried out in accordance with the recommendations in the machine service manual i.e. on firm level ground, with suitable environmental conditions etc.
“Prior to any functional checks being undertaken by an operator using the platform controls, as part of the manufacturer’s listed inspections, calibration of the angle sensors should be confirmed from ground level using an inclinometer. The use of test weights might also be appropriate.”
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