The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) saw membership rise 6.6% in 2017, according to its annual report released at the association’s event attended by more than 300 in Miami last week, where the winners of the 2017 International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) were also announced.
The report, which was published in eight languages including for the first time in Chinese, showed membership increased from 1,240 at the end of 2016 to 1,322 last year, extending IPAF’s footprint into 66 territories worldwide, including five new countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, and Latvia.
According to the report, demand for IPAF training soared last year, with 164,662 people successfully completing an IPAF course in 2017–3.7% more than the 158,727 that did so in 2016. Significant training growth was experienced in the Gulf States, which was 27.2% up on the previous year (which in turn was 49.3% higher than 2015).
Training demand in Latin America was 21.8% higher, reversing a downward trend seen in previous years, while the U.K. saw an increase of 5% in the year. During November 2017, IPAF reached 1.5 million PAL Card operator licenses issued since the initiative began; at year-end there were almost 725,000 valid PAL Cards in circulation worldwide.
“IPAF’s reach and influence has extended further, and we now deliver our training to an ever-increasing number of MEWP and MCWP operators and managers in almost 70 territories worldwide,” said Tim Whiteman, CEO and managing director of IPAF. “IPAF’s mission since its inception in 1983 has always been safety and the preservation of life. Today, as then, falls from height are the number one workplace killer. There is a safe way to carry out temporary work at height: Properly trained and supervised operators using the correct powered access equipment for the job–that’s the message IPAF is still spreading around the globe, 35 years on.”
Whiteman said IPAF has seen an increase in demand for IPAF’s training in the Middle East, Scandinavia, and Latin America across 2017
“Around the world, IPAF is helping companies become compliant with new regulations and developing innovative ways to deliver training–through Next Generation eLearning and exploring the possibilities offered by virtual reality and platform simulators, for instance,” Whiteman said.
Nick Selley, IPAF’s president, said that a year into his post, he’s pleased with the progress of initiatives to reduce accidents, promote apprenticeships, develop closer collaboration with other industry groups, and encourage more use of digital technology.
“IPAF invested heavily in 2017, strengthening its infrastructure through staff appointments, investment in new IT and communications systems and the ongoing ELEVATE quality improvement initiative, which will further help position IPAF for further growth in the future,” Selley said.
The Miami event also honored the winners of the IAPAs, which are jointly organized by Access International and IPAF. The awards celebrate best practice and excellence in the powered access industry.
The 2018 IAPA winners included:
The independent, impartial judging panel considered more than 100 entries received. The judges made decisions based on the merit of each entry and were excluded from entering their company for any award.
For more information on the IAPAs or to download the free annual report, visit www.ipaf.org.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
