What MEWP Hire Covers
A Glasgow hire quote may use MEWP, short for mobile elevating work platform, to describe the access equipment. It covers several types of equipment used to raise people, tools and permitted materials in a guarded platform. Scissor lifts, articulated booms, telescopic booms and tracked spider lifts solve different access problems, so the term alone is not enough to specify a hire.
Start by explaining the work in ordinary language. Replacing lighting in a clear warehouse aisle is different from inspecting a facade above a loading canopy. Describe where the machine can stand, where the operative needs to reach and what will travel in the platform.
Working Height And Working Envelope
Working height is different from platform height. Ask for the supplier’s definition when comparing machines and provide the actual height of the task. For a boom, the required horizontal outreach and any up-and-over clearance are equally important.
Photographs can help show overhead obstructions, but they do not replace measurements. Include pipework, signs, projecting roofs and cable routes that might restrict the basket or boom. The machine needs space to reach the task and return safely, not simply touch the highest point.
Power And The Site Environment
The environment may narrow the choice before height is considered. Enclosed buildings need careful attention to exhaust emissions and ventilation, while noise-sensitive sites may have operational restrictions. Electric, hybrid and engine-powered options should be assessed against the actual work and charging arrangements.
An outdoor machine also needs a suitable standing area and conditions within its rated limits. Tell us about sloping approaches, gravel, service covers and newly laid surfaces. If conditions are uncertain, raise the need for a site assessment rather than making assumptions from the equipment category.
Responsibilities During Hire
Agree who will operate the platform and who will supervise the work. An operator needs competence for the category and familiarisation with the specific machine. If you are arranging access for another contractor, check those arrangements before delivery rather than assuming the hire includes them.
A rescue plan must be workable for the location and the people present. Discuss ground-control access, site communications and who can act if the platform cannot be lowered normally. Keep the plan available at the work area and review it if the working position changes.
Regulations And Safe Use In Scotland
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply in Scotland. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) also place duties on those providing and using relevant equipment.
Competent planning, suitable equipment and maintenance remain necessary throughout hire. Check the current thorough examination report and the machine instructions before accepting the platform for use.
Read the HSE advice on planning work at height, PUWER overview and LOLER examination guidance.
From Enquiry To Collection
- Define the task. Give the postcode, proposed dates and measured work position. Mark any uncertain measurements so they can be checked.
- Review the specification. Confirm the proposed equipment, access dimensions, operating conditions and what is included in the hire arrangement.
- Prepare the handover. Agree delivery access and the site contact. Have the working area ready and the responsible people available.
- Manage the hire. Follow the agreed plan, report defects and confirm the off-hire and collection arrangements before the job finishes.
What Affects The Hire Cost?
MEWP Hire costs depend on the equipment specification, hire period and delivery postcode. Transport access, attachments, power requirements and whether operated hire is needed can change the scope.
Ask for delivery, collection, fuel or charging conditions, damage responsibility and extension terms to be clear in the written quote. Do not assume collection happens automatically on the final planned working day.
Common Questions
Is A Cherry Picker The Same As A MEWP?
A cherry picker is a common name for a boom-type MEWP, while MEWP is the wider equipment category. Scissor lifts and tracked platforms are also included in that category. When asking for hire, describe the access problem and any obstruction so the quote can identify the specific platform type that suits the work.
Can MEWP Hire Be Arranged For A Short Project?
MEWP hire can be requested for a short project or a longer programme, subject to machine availability and the supplier’s terms. Provide the planned operating dates as well as delivery and collection windows. Ask how minimum hire periods, extensions and collection notice work before accepting the quote, especially if other trades control access.