What to check on an aerial work platform before use?

The MEWP checklist, step by step

Follow an order that avoids putting the machine in motion before identifying a defect. Carry out functional tests in a clear area, with no one under the platform, and as per the manual. The exact points vary between scissor, articulated, telescopic, electric or combustion-engine platforms. If a test cannot be carried out safely, stop and ask a competent person for help.

Note the date, the machine's identification and your name. Do not tick "compliant" without a test where the procedure requires one. A photo and a short description are often enough to report a defect to the workshop manager. A printable checklist can be downloaded as a PDF at /check-list-nacelle; adapt it to the manual of the machine in use.

1. Suitability: identify the work, height, outreach, load, number of people and ground constraints. Check that the chosen platform is suitable and that the suitability assessment has been carried out.
2. Documents: check the manual, the maintenance logbook and the latest VGP report. For hired equipment, check the inspection date and that flagged issues have been resolved; request the report from the rental company if it is missing.
3. Visual inspection: walk round the structure, visible welds, pins, hoses, cables, leaks and loose or damaged parts. Check the safety markings.
4. Supports and access: check tyres or wheels, outriggers, provided chocks, floor, access gate, guard rails and anchor points indicated by the manufacturer. Do not bypass any interlock.
5. Energy and fluid levels: check fuel, fluids and the battery as per the manual; inspect the charging cable, connectors, leaks and warning lights. Do not handle a hot or pressurised circuit.
6. Controls and emergency functions: test the upper and lower controls, the emergency stop, the emergency lowering control and the alarms per the manufacturer's procedure, without putting a colleague at risk.
7. Work area: check for soft or sloping ground, trenches, obstacles, shared activity, traffic, weather and overhead power lines. Mark out the area and adjust the setup before raising the platform.

How to check suitability for the task?

The suitability assessment is site preparation, not just a box on a form. It matches the platform's capacity and reach against the actual job and its environment. A machine that reaches the right height is not necessarily suitable for soft ground, a sideways outreach or a narrow access point. Account for the weight of people, tools and materials, without exceeding the capacity stated by the manufacturer.

Prévention BTP provides a suitability assessment template for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). For hired equipment, tell the rental company about the site constraints, then check on site that the machine delivered matches what was planned. If conditions change, reassess the choice before resuming work; the previous assessment does not cover a new environment.

What documents to request for a hired MEWP?

Request the user manual, the maintenance logbook and the latest inspection report. According to Prévention BTP, these documents must be present in the hired MEWP. Check that the VGP is up to date to within six months and that any flagged issues have been resolved. A date mentioned verbally alone does not let you read the report's observations. If a document is missing or an issue remains unresolved, get the situation clarified before using the equipment.

Hiring does not exempt the user company from the suitability assessment or routine checks. Also check the operator's training and driving authorisation. The CACES certificate of competence can help demonstrate skills; it is not the same as the driving authorisation issued by the employer. Keep the rental company's contact details and the breakdown procedure to hand.

What to do if the platform has a defect?

Do not try to compensate for a faulty emergency stop, a missing alarm, a leak or a damaged guard rail with a verbal instruction. Stop the check safely, report the defect and prevent recommissioning unless decided by a competent person. Describe the circumstances, the location and the test result; attach a photo if it helps understanding. Have the repair and the follow-up test recorded in the machine's tracking.

A recent VGP report does not guarantee no damage has occurred since. Conversely, passing this morning's checks does not replace the VGP. The pre-use check, maintenance and the statutory inspection serve complementary purposes. The INRS states that findings must be acted upon. If in doubt about the severity of a defect or the need for a post-repair inspection, consult the manager and the inspection body.

How to keep a record of the shift-start check?

Keep a dated record linked to the platform's identifier, with the points checked, any faults and the action taken. This lets the fleet manager see that a fault was reported, then fixed, rather than losing the information between shifts. On a shared site, record which operator carried out the check and for which job. If the machine or conditions change, repeat the relevant checks.

The PDF at /check-list-nacelle can be printed for field use. Its presence alone does not prove the machine is safe: the check must be carried out properly and adapted to the model. For planned servicing, also see /entretien-nacelle. Keep separate records of maintenance actions, the last VGP report and recommissioning decisions.