CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School MEWP operation and fall-protection risk assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Primary and secondary schools, including maintained and academy schools in England, where MEWPs are used or where people may be exposed to MEWP operations.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Operation of mobile elevating work platforms on school grounds, construction areas, temporary works areas or other sites under school control, including assessment of ground and surface conditions, temporary covers, trenches, manholes, uncompacted backfill, outriggers, chocks, spreader plates, guardrails, toe boards, work-restraint requirements, falling objects and exclusion zones below the platform. Applicability is conditional on actual equipment, work and site conditions.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
MEWP overturning, instability or loss of support because the platform is operated on ground or surfaces that are 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 or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Before operation, assess the actual travel and set-up route and the MEWP operating position. Use the platform only on firm and level ground as specified by the equipment manufacturer. Identify and manage trenches, manholes, excavations, edges, voids, soft ground, recently disturbed ground and uncompacted backfill. Do not proceed where ground conditions are unsuitable unless the equipment manufacturer’s instructions and a competent site assessment identify a safe method. Record relevant site features, restrictions and required precautions.
Local assessment and additional controls
Failure of temporary covers or other surface coverings under MEWP loads, resulting in collapse, instability or overturning.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Where temporary covers are present, verify before use that they are suitable for the applied pressure and the specific MEWP loading. Obtain or confirm relevant information about cover strength and support arrangements. Prevent operation over covers that cannot be verified as adequate. Include covers and any limitations in the work plan and operator briefing.
Local assessment and additional controls
MEWP instability or overturning because outriggers are not fully extended or chocked before the platform is raised, where the equipment is designed to use outriggers.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable to the MEWP, extend outriggers fully and chock them before raising the platform, in accordance with the equipment manual. Confirm that the equipment configuration, support points and set-up are suitable for the actual ground and available space. Do not raise the platform if required outriggers or chocks cannot be correctly deployed.
Local assessment and additional controls
Excessive ground pressure, sinking or instability because suitable spreader plates are not used where required by the equipment manual or actual ground conditions.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Check the equipment manual to determine whether spreader plates are required. Where required, use suitable spreader plates correctly positioned and supported for the MEWP and ground conditions. Reassess the arrangement if ground conditions, machine position or loading changes. Do not proceed where the required spreader plates or supporting information are unavailable.
Local assessment and additional controls
People falling from the MEWP platform because guardrails or toe boards are absent, ineffective, damaged, incorrectly fitted or bypassed.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Before use, inspect the work platform and confirm that effective guardrails and toe boards are fitted and suitable for the equipment and task. Do not use the MEWP if required edge protection is missing, damaged, ineffective or not correctly secured. Prevent removal or bypassing of guardrails and toe boards unless a manufacturer-approved method and suitable alternative protection are specifically provided.
Local assessment and additional controls
A person falling from the platform where a residual risk of falling remains during MEWP operation or work at height.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Determine from the actual equipment, task and site conditions whether a residual risk of falling remains after use of the platform’s guardrails and toe boards. Where such a risk remains, use a harness with a short work-restraint lanyard secured to a suitable manufacturer-provided anchorage point within the basket, so that the wearer cannot reach a position from which they could fall from the carrier. Confirm compatibility, inspection status, user competence and the manufacturer’s requirements before use. Keep this control conditional and do not require it where it is not applicable to the equipment and assessed task.
Local assessment and additional controls
Tools, materials or other objects falling from the MEWP and striking people below or nearby.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Assess the potential for tools, materials or other objects to fall from the platform. Secure or otherwise control items as appropriate to the equipment manual and task. Barrier off the area around the platform so that people below cannot be struck by falling tools or objects. Define the exclusion area using the actual work height, materials, task and surrounding conditions, and prevent unauthorised access while the risk exists.
Local assessment and additional controls
People, including pupils, staff, visitors or contractors, entering or remaining below or close to the MEWP and being exposed to falling objects or other consequences of the work at height.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Identify all areas below and around the MEWP where people could be exposed. Establish and maintain a suitable barriered exclusion zone around the platform for the duration of the relevant work. Coordinate the exclusion zone with school movements, access routes, entrances, play areas, deliveries and other activities, using the actual site layout. Provide suitable supervision and arrangements to prevent access by unauthorised people. Suspend the work if the exclusion zone cannot be maintained.
Local assessment and additional controls
Controls being unsuitable or ineffective because the MEWP manual, equipment configuration, work task and actual site conditions have not been considered together.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls or evidence of implementation are recorded in this reusable register.
- Proposed controls
- Use the equipment manual and actual site conditions as the basis for selecting controls. Confirm the MEWP type and configuration, ground and surface conditions, temporary covers, localised ground features, outriggers, chocks, spreader plates, guardrails, toe boards, any conditional work-restraint requirement and the exclusion zone before operation. Record unresolved limitations and do not proceed until the necessary information and controls are available.
Local assessment and additional controls