Australia’s standards for the design and use of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) have just been overhauled — and the industry is on board.
The Elevating Work Platform Association (EWPA) has welcomed two updated standards that aim to boost safety and efficiency for both manufacturers and operators.
What’s changing?
The revised standards — AS/NZS 1418.10:2025 for manufacturing and AS 2550.10:2025 for operation — were released by Standards Australia. Together, they provide clearer guidance for the construction, maintenance, and use of MEWPs, which are widely used in industries like construction, warehousing, and maintenance.
The manufacturing standard focuses on safer and more efficient machine design, while the operating standard outlines best practices for using the platforms safely. Both updates reflect new industry needs and expectations, especially as the equipment becomes more advanced and more widely used.
These updates are designed to help reduce accidents and improve reliability. MEWPs can be risky if not used correctly, and these changes aim to address that by setting a national benchmark for both the machines and the people who use them.
According to James Oxenham, CEO of EWPA, the changes support “continuous improvement of machine design and industry training” — two key areas for improving overall safety.
The EWPA didn’t just support the changes; it was actively involved in shaping them. The organisation worked with Standards Australia and gathered feedback from its members during the consultation process.
Oxenham thanked volunteers and members who contributed, and said the updates align with the EWPA’s goal of promoting safer work environments and more effective operator training.
Next steps: Training and resources
These standards aren’t launching in isolation. They follow recent EWPA initiatives like a review of the Yellow Card training programme — a key certification for MEWP operators — and the rollout of a Digital Yellow Card to make verifying credentials easier.
To help businesses and workers adjust to the new standards, EWPA will soon release an updated Good Practice Guide that will be freely available on its website.