Global Powered Access Fatalities Drop Nearly 25% in 2025 IPAF Safety Report

IPAF Report Highlights Global Drop in MEWP Fatalities

Fatal accidents involving powered access equipment decreased by nearly a quarter worldwide in 2025, according to the latest safety report published by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). The figures reflect a significant year-on-year improvement in safety outcomes connected to mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast climbing work platforms.

The reduction comes following targeted safety campaigns, improved machine operator training standards, and wider adoption of secondary guarding systems designed to prevent entrapment and falls from height.

Safety Standards Drive Improvements on Site

Working at height remains one of the single biggest causes of serious injury and death within the construction and building maintenance sectors. IPAF's annual data collection tracks incident reports across dozens of countries to pinpoint common failure points, such as machinery overturns, falls, electrocution, and entrapment.

The sharp drop in fatal incidents demonstrates that stricter safety enforcement, alongside better pre-use equipment checks and ground-condition monitoring, is yielding tangible results across job sites globally.

What This Means for Tradespeople Buying Kit and Materials

What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit — does it change what they should pay, buy, or watch out for?

For self-employed tradespeople, installers, and serious DIYers who regularly hire or buy powered access equipment, this data highlights key operational considerations regarding safety gear and machinery selection:

• Safety Harnesses and Lanyards: Ensure any personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) bought from trade counters meets current EN safety standards. Inspect lanyards for wear before every use on a boom lift.
• Hire Specifications: When hiring scissor lifts or cherry pickers from national or local hire depots, prioritize models fitted with modern safety features such as integrated secondary guarding and anti-entrapment bars.
• Training Requirements: Contractors operating on commercial sites should budget for valid IPAF PAL Cards (Powered Access Licences), as principal contractors increasingly demand proof of formal training before allowing operators onto site machines.

Reported by Construction Management — original article