National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 18893:2024.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee MHE/12/1, Lifting Platforms - Mobile elevating work platforms.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2024.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 214, Elevating work platforms.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 18893:2014), which has been technically revised.

The main changes are as follows:

the Scope was updated to clarify the purpose of the document and its applicability to both new MEWPs on the market and those currently in service;
in Clause 3, additional terms were added to support the clarifications on MEWP groups and types throughout the document;
in Clause 4, changes were made to the modification requirements (manufacturer modifications versus owner modifications);
in Clause 6, requirements were broadened for operator training to include topics such as authorization, supervisor training and operator retraining;
the original Annex containing examples of misuse was deleted, and a new Annex A was added to show examples of each group and type MEWP.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

This document, as other documents on mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), is part of a programme of work regarding standardization of terminology, ratings, general principles (technical performance requirements and risk assessment), safety requirements, test methods, maintenance, and operation for MEWPs used to raise (elevate) and position personnel (and related work tools and materials).

MEWPs are machines/devices which provide protection from falling when working at height.

The entities with responsibilities related to safe use of a MEWP are established by law in some countries. This document provides guidance in the identification of those responsible entities.

The responsibility for safe operation of a MEWP lies with employers, managers, supervisors, operators, and others using these machines/devices. This document provides requirements so that appropriate MEWPs are selected for use and positioned, used, maintained and inspected for safe use.

The use of competent authorized persons and trained operators (see ISO 18878) is critical to the safe operation of a MEWP.

1 Scope

This document applies to all mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) intended for moving a person(s) along with their necessary tools and materials at an elevated work location.

This document specifies the requirements for selection, inspection, training, maintenance, repair and safe operation of MEWPs to achieve the following objectives:

eliminate or reduce accidents, personal injuries and property damage;
establish criteria for selection, inspection, training, maintenance, repair and safe operation;
help manufacturers, dealers, owners, users, operators, occupants and qualified persons to understand their responsibilities;
establish a process for reviews to verify compliance with this document;
provide a guide for governmental authorities desiring to formulate safety rules and regulations.

In this document, MEWP classifications comprise a MEWP group (platform location in reference to tipping line) with an associated MEWP type (reference to travelling).

This document is applicable to both new MEWPs put on the market and those MEWPs currently in service.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 General requirements

4.1 Basic principles

4.2 Safe use planning

4.3 Manual(s)

4.4 Record retention

4.5 Modifications

5 Maintenance

5.1 Preventive maintenance

5.2 Maintenance inspections

5.3 Maintenance personnel training

5.4 Maintenance and repair safety precautions

5.5 Replacement parts

5.6 Manufacturer's safety-related bulletins

6 Qualification and training

6.1 Authorization to operate

6.2 User conformance evaluations

6.3 Retraining

6.4 Assessment of personnel

6.5 Occupant knowledge

6.6 Supervisor training

6.7 Familiarization

6.8 Assistance to operators

7 Operation

7.1 General

7.2 Risk assessment

7.3 Rescue from height

7.4 Addressing system failure

7.5 Before operation

7.6 Work site inspection

7.7 Understanding of hazardous locations

7.8 Specific requirements of operation

Bibliography

BS ISO 18893:2024

Mobile elevating work platforms. Safety principles, inspection, maintenance and operation

Current

Published:

31 Oct 2024