CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
MEWP Ground, Stability and Falling-Object Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Those planning, managing, supervising or carrying out MEWP activities for maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. Applicability is conditional where MEWPs operate on ground under the school's control, or where MEWP work involves work at height or people exposed below the platform.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
MEWP operations where ground and surface conditions, temporary covers, trenches, manholes, uncompacted backfill, outriggers, chocks, spreader plates, work-at-height controls or falling-object controls may affect safety. Complete only where the stated conditional applicability applies and confirm site-specific arrangements before the activity.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Overturning or loss of stability because the MEWP is used on ground that is not firm and level, or because localised ground features such as trenches, manholes or uncompacted backfill are present.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls are recorded in this reusable register. Confirm the actual ground conditions and any existing arrangements before use.
- Proposed controls
- Assess and record the ground and surface conditions before positioning the MEWP. Use the platform only on firm and level ground. Identify and control trenches, manholes, uncompacted backfill and other localised ground features that could lead to overturning. Stop the activity and reassess if ground conditions change.
Local assessment and additional controls
Failure or displacement of temporary covers beneath the MEWP, causing instability, collapse or overturning.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls are recorded in this reusable register. Confirm whether temporary covers are present and whether their capacity has been established.
- Proposed controls
- Identify all temporary covers in the proposed travel or set-up area. Do not position or operate the MEWP over a temporary cover unless it is confirmed to withstand the applied pressure. Obtain relevant equipment, temporary-works or ground-condition information where needed, and prevent access to areas that have not been confirmed as suitable.
Local assessment and additional controls
MEWP instability caused by outriggers not being fully extended or chocked, or by inadequate load distribution beneath the outriggers.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls are recorded in this reusable register. Confirm the MEWP configuration, manufacturer instructions and any existing support arrangements before use.
- Proposed controls
- Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions. Extend and chock outriggers before raising the platform. Determine whether spreader plates are required and use them where required by the equipment manual. Confirm that the supporting surface and set-up arrangement are suitable before raising the platform.
Local assessment and additional controls
A person falling from the MEWP platform where work at height is undertaken and guardrails, toe boards or other suitable fall-prevention arrangements are ineffective or absent.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls are recorded in this reusable register. Confirm the platform's guardrails, toe boards and any manufacturer-provided anchorage before use.
- Proposed controls
- Keep the work platform fitted with effective guardrails and toe boards. Where a residual risk of falling remains, use a harness with a short work-restraint lanyard secured to a suitable manufacturer-provided anchorage point within the basket, so the wearer cannot reach a position from which they could fall from the carrier. Confirm that any selected equipment and method are suitable for the MEWP and task.
Local assessment and additional controls
People below or near the MEWP being struck by falling tools, materials or other objects.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls are recorded in this reusable register. Confirm the people, access routes and areas that could be exposed below or around the platform.
- Proposed controls
- Barrier off the area around the platform so falling tools or objects do not strike people below. Define and maintain an exclusion zone for the duration of the work, control access and protect school users, staff, contractors and visitors who could enter the area. Review the exclusion zone if the MEWP position, work area or falling-object exposure changes.
Local assessment and additional controls