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A new international standard for MEWPs is changing the way controls on boom lifts and scissor lifts are designed. ISO 21455 (Operator’s controls – Actuation, displacement, location, and method of operation) was published in 2020 to define rules for safeguarding persons and objects against the risk of accidents associated with the operation of MEWPs.  Australia is the first country to incorporate language from ISO 21455 into its industry standards (AS/NZS 1418:10), which is currently under revision with an anticipated effective date of September 2025. Meanwhile, Europe (EN280) and North American (ANSI A92 and CSA B354) standards groups will likely make similar changes during the next scheduled revisions of their standards over the next five to seven years.
One of the objectives of ISO 21455 is to standardize the direction of machine movement so that it correlates to the direction of the controller movement. Historically, MEWP control configuration and design has evolved over time, as technology advances, customer preferences are considered, and new equipment is introduced. As a result, there were not consistent designs from OEM to OEM. Now, all MEWPs manufactured after September 2025 for use in Australia must meet the new ISO design requirements. But operators in North America also need to be aware of the change. What This Means for Safety and Training Anticipating this change, Genie for example, has already incorporated the new control design requirements across its entire line of GS scissor lifts, which launched in November 2024. MEWP users will likely start to see this change from other OEMs as well, as they phase the design changes into product updates. That means end users will need to remain vigilant when it comes to operator training. In the marketplace, there will be both old and new MEWP controller designs. For Genie, the changes relate to the lift function. When the lift function button is selected on new GS scissor lifts, pulling the joystick towards the operator will raise the platform and pushing the joystick away will lower the platform. This is a change from previous models of GS slab scissor lifts. It’s worth noting that ANSI and CSA standards require operator training, MEWP supervisor training, safe use plans, and more. Operators must be trained on the specific model MEWP they are using. This control design change underscores why that is so critical to safe operation. Ergonomics, Safety, and the Path Forward Working as a group of industry experts through ISO TC 214 WG1, JLG, Skyjack, Haulotte, Manitou, NiftyLift, and Genie were all involved in the development of this standard. Other experts from around the world joined in. Ultimately, the publication of the new standard required collaboration, vetting, due process, and consensus. While direction of control movement and machine movement is an important part of the standard, it also addresses force needed to actuate movement, appropriate spacing of controls, and grouping similar functions together. The process is a good one and I believe the result will improve operational performance for MEWP users. But change always comes with challenges, and as the control design begins to phase into the marketplace, education and training will be needed for rental companies and end users. This Safety Flash was contributed by Jason Berry, Director, Product Safety, Genie- A Terex Brand. It was selected by the SEAA Safety & Education Committee in order to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to [email protected]. Comments are closed.
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