Mast Climbing Work Platform Check List – Significant Seven

Words: Rob Faro, Eric Johnson

Many MCAA members and Mast Climbing Work Platform equipment owners have been asking for a copy of a presentation completed by Hydro Mobile at Mid-Year 2022. The basis of the presentation is for owners and users of Mast Climbing Work Platforms to establish a seven-step process as the foundation for good risk-based safety procedures during the installation and use of Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWPs) to enhance safety, productivity, and compliance with applicable codes and manufacturer’s specifications and requirements.

Comparisons to a pilot’s preflight preparation plan provide a great deal of correlation and relevance to the effective management of risk:

MCWP operators and installers, like airline pilots, must have received appropriate training and demonstrate requisite experience levels to maintain safe levels of work.
Completing your ‘preflight plan’ determines the scope of work, aids in productivity, while identifying and abating any existing and/or predictable hazards.
Required equipment inspections must be completed by a qualified person.
A successfully completed plan should therefore provide safe installation, a safe working environment, safe access and egress to the MCWPs, and a detailed emergency evacuation plan.

MCWP CHECKLIST:

1.) TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS:

Identify & Specify the Competent and Qualified Persons:

"Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them."

Identify the responsible individual on-site as it relates to the MCWP. The boss that others can go to verify any related issues.

Qualified Persons – Confirm they have the proper product-specific and up-to-date training and experience level to meet the project's requirements.

"Qualified means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his/her ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project."

Training & Certification Checklist:

Qualified Technician with up-to-date certifications to inspect equipment prior to use.
Qualified Erector/Dismantlers with up-to-date certifications.
Qualified Forklift Operator with up-to-date certifications.
Qualified Rigging and Signaling Operators with up-to-date certifications.
Qualified MCWP User/Operators with up-to-date certifications.

NOTE: Keep copies of all certifications on-site and provide copies to GC.

CERTIFICATION LEVEL DESCRIPTION

User/Operator: A Qualified User/Operator is allowed to operate motorized units according to the guidelines, instructions, warnings, and methods set out in the owners' manuals and manufacturers’ training courses after they have been erected, tested, and passed for use by a qualified person.

Erector/Dismantler Assistant: A Qualified Erector/Dismantler Assistant is allowed to operate, erect, dismantle, and modify the configuration of MCWP units according to the guidelines, instructions, warnings, and methods set out in the owners' manuals and manufacturers’ training courses under the full-time supervision of a certified Erector/Dismantler.

Erector/Dismantler: A Qualified Erector/Dismantler is allowed to operate, erect, dismantle, test, pass for use, and modify the configuration of MCWP units according to the guidelines, instructions, warnings, and methods set out in the owners' manuals and manufacturers’ training courses.

Technician: A Qualified Technician is allowed to perform maintenance, inspections, and repairs on MCWP units according to the guidelines, instructions, warnings, and methods set out in the owners' manuals and manufacturers’ training courses.

2.) LAYOUT – Capacities and BOM:
Prepare a layout showing how the mast climbing work platform system (motorized units, bridges, and accessories) will be positioned near structures or walls to be erected. Make sure to position motorized units to provide proper anchoring points for masts for tied installations. The layout shall include capacities for all platform areas; motorized units, cantilever bridges, bearing bridges, and forward or back extensions. The layout shall include a complete list of required equipment for sourcing and inspection.

3.) SITE SURVEY / JHA – Safe Access & Egress:
The purpose of the Job Survey (JHA) is to verify the equipment layout and to identify any obstacles, hazards, or safety concerns. Make sure the ground or supporting surface has the capacity that meets or exceeds the reaction loads applied by the MCWP. This should be conducted prior to sending equipment to the site to confirm and finalize the BOM.

Access and Egress: Confirm safe means of accessing and egressing the platform when elevated. This may be accomplished by the use of internal stairs and through the buildings' window openings, by climbing the mast if legal to do so with use of fall protection, or by using additional scaffold stair towers or motorized access.

4.) WALL TIES – Location, Anchor Type, and Authorization:
Wall Ties: Identify and review the means and methods of supporting the masts and anchoring. Verify it meets the manufacturers’ tie schedule and reaction load requirements. Receive authorization from the EOR for your proposed wall tie means and methods.

5.) INSPECTIONS - Pre-Use Equipment Inspections – Annual, Frequent, and Daily:
Inspection and maintenance operations must be carried out efficiently and in a timely manner. Daily inspections and their related operations must be performed by a qualified user/operator every day or before every working shift. Frequent and annual inspections and their related operations must be carried out by a qualified technician.

Inspection Checklist:

An Annual Inspection is to be conducted by a Qualified Technician on all equipment over one year old.
A Frequent Inspection is to be conducted by a Qualified Technician on all equipment prior to shipping to the site.
Identify who will be conducting the Daily Inspections and responsible for Maintenance.
If the project continues over three months, a second Frequent Inspection is required.

NOTE: Keep copies of all inspections on-site and provide copies to GC.

6.) INSTALLATION – HAND OVER – GREEN TAG:
It is essential that the installation and dismantling of all MCWP units and related accessories be carried out according to the guidelines, instructions, and warnings included in the manufacturers' owner's manual and performed by qualified erectors/dismantlers under the supervision of a competent person.

The Handover sheet shall be completed by the lead E&D individual confirming that the setup has been completed as per the owner's manual meeting all manufacturers' requirements and is ready for use. It records all installation details so responsibility can be transferred from the erector to the User/Operators. The Handover sheet is the MCWP version of the scaffold green tag – verifying it is safe for use.

7.) EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN:
Required by law, every MCWP setup requires a job and site-specific plan for quickly and safely evacuating an injured worker and/or workers stuck on a platform due to operational failure.

Mast Climbing Work Platform Check List – Significant Seven

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