Both the American Rental Association and the International Powered Access Federation announced this week they are formally standing against the proposed ANSI/ASSE A10.29: Aerial Lifts in Construction Standard, which covers the purchase, rental, lease, maintenance, use and training in use of aerial platforms used for lifting personnel in construction.
According to RentalPulse.com, ARA believes the proposed ANSI/ASSE A10.29 Standard is in direct conflict with the ANSI/SIA A92 Standards, which ARA follows, supports, and has direct representation on the A92 main committee. IPAF members share a similar viewpoint; they believe that safe use guidelines are already covered in the current ANSI A92 standards, and the hazards and risk associated with safe use in construction are no different than the hazards and risks found in all other industries using AWPs. The development of a second standard will either be duplicative or introduce inconsistencies between the two standards, IPAF said.
In addition to specific language that IPAF members object—which it did not specify in a press release—the association further believes that it should not be supported as it will result in confusion for end users and create different requirements for operators of the same equipment depending on the work they perform and the industry they work in. There is no unique language in the proposed standard that does not apply to any user in any industry. The AWP industry only needs one standard, the existing ANSI A92 standard, and, should the need arise, all industries have the opportunity to have their concerns heard and addressed on
ARA confirmed it plans to deliver its comments to ASSE on behalf of all ARA members before the Oct. 6 public comment deadline.
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