Working on a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP), such as a bucket truck, to deploy small cells or DAS networks may look less intimidating than clicking in at the top of a 199-foot cell tower, but it can be just as hazardous.
“Sometimes people will overreach outside the bucket or even climb up on the first rail of a work platform, so there’s a possibility of falling out,” Michel Goulet, Professional Development Manager, Petzl, told Inside Towers. “When repositioning a MEWP basket that has no obstruction sensors, the apparatus can get hung-up on a structure causing hydraulic pressure to build in the boom and when it releases, a very violent movement of energy can toss the worker out of the basket.”
Petzl’s three new factory-assembled MEWP Kits provide a simple, ready-to-use fall protection solution to help keep those who work-at-height in a boom or scissor lift and aerial platform safe. Each kit features a fall arrest harness (NEWTON, NEWTON FAST, or NEWTON EASYFIT), a single leg shock-absorbing lanyard (ABSORBICA-I 150 FLEX or ABSORBICA-I VARIO) which are pre-assembled with 2 Bm’D connectors and 2 CAPTIV positioning bars, and a 15 L BUCKET rope bag for storage.
There are three kits available, each available with different harness sizes:
- NEWTON MEWP Kit: NEWTON (size 1 or 2), pre-assembled ABSORBICA-I 150 FLEX, and red BUCKET 15
- NEWTON FAST MEWP Kit: NEWTON FAST (size 1 or 2), pre-assembled ABSORBICA-I VARIO, and black BUCKET 15
- NEWTON EASYFIT MEWP Kit: NEWTON EASYFIT (size 0, 1, or 2), pre-assembled ABSORBICA-I VARIO, and yellow BUCKET 15
The Petzl MEWP kits feature single leg lanyards that absorb energy in the event of a fall: the ABSORBICA-I FLEX 150 cm and adjustable ABSORBICA-I VARIO (100 cm to 150 cm). Each lanyard comes pre-assembled with connectors, so it is ready to use out of the bag. The ABSORBICA-I VARIO can be easily lengthened or shortened to adapt to the user’s needs. For example, it can be shortened to better restrain the operator in the basket while the MEWP is in motion.
“The ABSORBICA-I FLEX 150 lanyard has an elastic webbing leg. You don’t want a big loop of webbing around your knees when you are using this type of lanyard. The elastic webbing keeps the lanyard more compact and less intrusive,” Goulet explained. “The ABSORBICA-I VARIO also allows you to vary the length of the lanyard that you’re using for fall arrest.” Both lanyards include shock absorbers with progressive tearing engineered to reduce the impact force during the deceleration portion of the fall arrest. Both lanyards are rated for workers weighing from 50 to 140 kg (110 lbs. to 310 lbs.).
“If you happen to be driving the MEWP from the platform position and hit a bump, this movement can be amplified through the boom arm and it doesn’t take much to be catapulted over the railing and out of the work platforms,” Goulet said. The potential for serious injury is substantial even if you are caught by your personal fall protection system.
Optimal accessories to these kits are the HI-VIZ Vests for NEWTON Harnesses, the GRILLON adjustable work positioning lanyards, the EXO personal escape system, and the JAG RESCUE KIT.
The GRILLON adjustable work positioning lanyard provides a complement to a fall arrest system and is used for travel restraint. When the MEWP vehicle is in motion, Petzl recommends cinching down on both the GRILLON and ABSORBICA-I VARIO to help reduce the risk of being ejected from the platform (as shown in the above photo).
The EXO personal escape system consists of a small diameter, but very strong aramid rope and a descent control device with an anti-panic function. In case of emergency, the worker connects the rope to the platform’s approved anchor point and rappels down to the ground (see video below).
The JAG RESCUE KIT consists of anchorage, connector, pulley system, descender, and rope, which allow a co-worker to first raise and then lower a casualty to the ground in case they become incapacitated.
“No fall protection system is complete without a rescue plan, right?” Goulet said. “You really need a rescue plan if somebody faints from exhaustion or gets electrocuted, or the MEWP has a mechanical problem.”
Petzl recognizes that more and more small cells are going to be built in the coming years, and it is critical to safeguard the technicians who will be doing this type of work. The Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) Kits comply with OSHA regulations and meet ANSI Z359 equipment performance requirements. Each kit is stowed in a protective BUCKET bag, making it convenient to use and easy to store and transport.
“A worker may be up and down multiple times when installing small cells in a day, taking their equipment from one location to the next. It is critical to make travel restraint, fall protection, and rescue systems as convenient and as easy to use as possible,” Goulet said. “That’s why we developed the Mobile Elevating Work Platform Kits to be an all-in-one solution.” Consideration must be given to having the right equipment and training for workers so that the use of elevating platforms continues to be safe and practical. Workers need to be trained on properly donning and adjusting their harnesses and other required PPEs. In addition, their need to know where to connect their fall arrest lanyard to the MEWP’s approved fall protection system anchor point is also important. Lastly, developing a rescue plan on how to evacuate themselves from a malfunctioning elevated platform and how to rescue a co-worker if an emergency occurs is a crucial part of the job.
You can obtain more information and purchase the Petzl MEWP kits, GRILLON positioning lanyards, EXO personal escape system, and JAG Rescue kits through an authorized dealer using the Petzl Dealer Locator. For more information, visit the MEWP kits page on Petzl.com.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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