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Introducing The ANSI A92 Standard

May. 11 2020 Forklift Fleet Management By C&C LIFT TRUCK

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Scissor lifts, booms, and other MEWPs (mobile elevated work platforms) are useful, durable, powerful machines that have become crucial in the operating of warehouses. For a wide range of height-involved tasks, they assist workers in the performance of their jobs. But, to decrease the risk of liability, property damage, and injuries on a worksite, the safe use of machines such as this can only be achieved through proper training and worker compliance.

Addressing current issues, the ANSI A92 standard for the lift and access equipment industry is promoting education and safety, while simplifying classification terminology where mobile elevated work platforms are concerned.

The Need for The ANSI A92 Standard

As just mentioned, this standard simplifies existing terminology that was sometimes hard to understand. Additionally, it was made for the safety standards that the industry relies upon, along with the evolution of equipment involved. So that machine operators and owners could prepare themselves for changes, stay abreast of upcoming modifications, and understand safety standards involved in the industry, it was important that the standards be modified. Enter the ANSI A92 standard.








What Does ANSI Stand For?

A nonprofit, private organization that develops systems across numerous industries throughout the United States, the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) also develops consensus standards. Around the world, these standards are used as best practices and guidelines, even though they apply mostly to United States products. Having not been updated since 2006, major changes were past due. So, to improve efficiency and safety, the new ANSI A92 standard was devised. It was published in December 2018 covering training, safe use, and design standards, and just recently went into effect. Now, current ISO standards and North American standards requirements are more closely aligned.






Changes

Among other things, there is now a different classification for MEWPs under the new standards – Group B and Group A. For machines with platforms that stay inside the tipping line but move vertically, these fall under Group A. Machines with platforms that extend past the tipping line, such as boom type equipment, and all other MEWPs fall under Group B.Other changes involve the following:

  • New training requirements for operators and owners.
  • Additional training required for currently qualified personnel to be newly qualified (this can involve operators, owners, supervisors, and others).

A breakdown of new operator training will include the following:

  • Theory (online or in a classroom)
  • Practice (hands-on machine operation and experience)
  • Evaluation (documentation of successful completion of previously mentioned segments)

Both North American standards: ANSI A92 (in the United States) and CSA B354 (in Canada) are expected to take effect in June 2020. These changes are designed to set a new normal for mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) around the world. It is important to note that all MEWP operators, rental stores, and aerial lift manufacturers need to be familiar with the new standards that are being introduced.



Why Did It Take So Long?

If these new standards were announced back in December 2018, why were they not implemented until the end of this year? The answer is simple: in order for all parties concerned to become compliant, a large amount of time was supplied in hopes that everyone would get on board on time. It is important to note that the new standards will place greater responsibility on MEWP owners and/or users regardless of whether they are a small business or large maintenance operation.

Operators, owners, and employers are expected to audit their processes and achieve compliance by December 10, 2019. Additionally, the new A92 standards affect MEWP design (e.g., chassis angle), load capacities, wind ratings, job site safety, and training, and will replace the following ANSI standards: A92.3, A92.5, A92.6 and A92.8.

At C&C Lift Truck, we provide more than just the sale and rental of forklifts. We also offer other types of material handling equipment, training, repair, accessories, and other forklift related services/products.