Elevating work platform deaths prompt safety warning

ByPeter McWhinnie

08 April 2026

SafeWork SA is warning workers and employers of the dangers associated with mobile elevating work platforms following three deaths in South Australia in the past 15 months.

Mobile elevating work platforms (EWPs) are mobile items of plant designed to lift or lower people and equipment by a telescopic, hinged or articulated device, or a combination of these, from a base support. EWPs include scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and telescopic boom lifts.

SafeWork SA has received 10 notifications involving mobile EWPs since the start of 2025. These have included five serious injuries and three fatalities, which are still under investigation.

The use of mobile EWPs to manage the risks associated with working at heights is common across many industries in South Australia and nationally.

While introducing mobile plant can reduce fall related hazards, it can also introduce new risks that must be managed. In particular, there is an increased risk of crush injury to workers operating from within an EWP work basket.

In the majority of incidents reported to SafeWork SA since 2025, the injured or deceased person was in the raised work basket when the incident occurred.

Workers have also been injured or killed in mobile EWP incidents while working at ground level and loading or unloading the EWP.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and sole traders must, so far as is reasonably practicable, identify all hazards and eliminate any risks associated with the use of mobile EWPs in a workplace.

PCBU duties

A PCBU must provide workers with reasonable information, instruction, training and supervision to operate the mobile EWP in all of the foreseeable work situations which may arise.

A PCBU must also ensure that:

  • the type of mobile EWP selected is appropriate for the task being performed
  • provide workers with information, instruction and training specific to the type of EWP selected, including its operating controls, limitations, safe operating procedures, emergency functions, and the hazards associated with that particular model and task.
  • the work is planned and conducted safely, including consideration of site‑specific hazards
  • risks associated with crush, collision, overturning, and plant movement are identified, assessed and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable.
  • workers are supplied with, and correctly use personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • the mobile EWP is safe to use in that particular environment (e.g. structures in the area, proximity to other workers and powerlines, ground surface)
  • the mobile EWP is inspected, serviced and maintained in a safe condition.
  • workers operating a boom‑type EWP with a boom length of 11 m or more hold a valid High Risk Work Licence (WP class)
  • effective emergency procedures are in place, including rescue plans, retrieval processes, and communication arrangements
  • a competent ground support person (e.g. spotter or standby person) is available where required, capable of monitoring the task, maintaining safe exclusion zones, and initiating emergency response if needed

Worker duties

Workers must take all practical steps to keep themselves safe in the workplace and ensure they do not place others at risk of harm. This includes the actions they take and the actions they fail to take, such as not wearing appropriate safety gear.

Workers have a responsibility to:

  • operate mobile EWPs only if they are trained, competent, and authorised to do so
  • wear and correctly use personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • follow the safe work procedures and instructions that are in place
  • identify and report hazards as they arise
  • maintain effective communication with ground support personnel (e.g. spotters) during EWP operations
  • ensure they understand the emergency procedures, including how to initiate an emergency stop or call for assistance
  • comply with exclusion zones and remain alert to crush, collision, overhead powerline and ground stability hazards when working in or around an EWP
  • never override, bypass or misuse plant safety features, emergency controls, or interlocks
  • report any incidents, near misses, plant defects or unsafe conditions immediately to their supervisor or appropriate person.

SafeWork SA’s Mobile elevating work platforms guideline(PDF)(external site)(PDF) can help PCBUs manage the risks associated with this plant.

In December 2025, Safe Work Australia released a model Code of Practice on elevating work platforms(external site)(PDF).

Visit SafeWork SA’s Mobile EWP page(external site) for more information.

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