Secondary Guarding

JMS Powered Access has always had a policy to purchase equipment for its access hire fleet with the very best latest in safety specification. In recent years, every boom lift we’ve purchased has been factory fitted with Secondary Guarding as stard.

However, we are still asked two questions regularly – from both experienced operators those less experienced.

What is Secondary Guarding?

What are the differences between the Secondary Guarding devices on the market?

What is Secondary Guarding?

Secondary Guarding is a generic term used for the devices that protect the operator of boom lift platforms from potential injury from overhead obstacles.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) describe Secondary Guarding as

A secondary guarding device is a piece of equipment which can be fitted to a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) in addition to the primary guarding systems, is intended to further reduce the risk of entrapment / or provide an alert that an entrapment situation has occurred.

When activated, some secondary guarding options will stop the functions of the machine, protecting the operator from injury.

 

What are the differences between the Secondary Guarding devices on the market?

There are two main design types of secondary guarding device currently available. These are:

  • Physical barrier(s)
  • Pressure sensing device(s)
Operator protective structure
Physical barrier – Operator protective structure

 

phisical barrier
Physical barrier – Fixed full cage structure

 

Pressure sensing device Pressure sensing bar - when activated, it stops further movement activates audible visual warning devices
Pressure sensing device – Pressure sensing bar – when activated, it stops further movement activates audible visual warning devices

 

Pressure sensing control pannel
Pressure sensing device – Pressure sensing control panel – when activated, it stops further movement activates audible visual warning devices
pressure sensing st
Pressure sensing device –  Break-away or moveable pressure sensing st – off bar – when activated, it stops immediate boom movement, activating audible visual warning devices, limits further platform movement

 

Side protection barriers
Pressure sensing device – Break-away or moveable pressure sensing st-off bar – when activated, it stops immediate boom movement, activating audible visual warning devices, limits further platform movement

Source: IPAF

 

The World’s leading Boom lift manufacturers all have proprietary secondary guarding options for their MEWPs

Our hire fleet includes the following secondary guarding options