HSE HUB › Toolbox talks › Work at Height
MEWP Safety: Checks, Harnesses, and Crush Hazards
Inspect your machine, wear your harness, and always look up to avoid overhead crush hazards.
Why this matters
- MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms) like man-lifts and cherry pickers are among the most common ways to work at height, but they carry high risks if the machine fails or the operator is trapped.
- Crush accidents often happen when the operator is focused on the floor or the basket and forgets about overhead beams, pipes, or ceilings above their head.
- Without a proper harness and pre-use check, a simple mechanical jolt or soft ground can throw you out of the basket before you have time to react.
Talking points
- Perform a daily pre-use check: test the controls, emergency stop, and look for hydraulic leaks before you start.
- The basket must be clear of debris and tools must be secured to prevent them from falling.
- You must wear a full-body harness with a short restraint lanyard clipped only to the designated anchor point.
- Always check the ground condition; never use a MEWP on soft or uneven soil without proper outriggers and pads.
- Look up and all around before moving; identify overhead obstructions like beams, power lines, or low ceilings.
- Keep your hands and body inside the guardrails at all times while the machine is moving or elevating.
- Ensure there is a trained person on the ground who knows how to use the emergency lowering controls.
Ask the crew
- Where is the designated anchor point for your harness in this specific machine?
- What should you do if the ground feels soft or the machine starts to tilt?
- Who is our designated ground person for emergency lowering today?
Download the PDF with attendance sheet
More work at height talks
Floor Openings and Edges: Covers and RailsFragile Roofs: Stop Before You StepGreen Tag: Your Only Way UpLadders: The Last Resort for HeightPrevent the Drop: Tools, Zones, and Toe BoardsHarness, Anchors, and Rescue: Your Life on the Line
HSE HUB by NeuraSafe is the app for safety professionals: toolbox talks and posters in six languages, HSE calculators, and with HSE HUB Pro, ASP and CSP practice by exam domain, a full mock exam, animated lessons and Career Prep. See HSE HUB on iPhone, Android and the web.