Gregory Poole Blog

The ANSI A92 Standard

ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, is a private, nonprofit organization that develops consensus standards and assessment systems across many U.S. industries. While they apply specifically to products in the United States, these standards are used as guidelines and best practices around the world.

With the last major changes to ANSI standards in the access industry taking place more than a decade ago in 2006, it was time for an update. The new ANSI A92 standard was developed to improve safety and efficiency for the design and use of MEWPs (MOBILE ELEVATING WORK PLATFORMS), formerly known as Aerial Work Platforms. The updated ANSI A92 suite of design, safe use and training standards was published in the U.S. on Dec. 10, 2018 and will be officially effective in December 2019. These new standards more closely align North American standards requirements with current ISO standards.

Effects on Manufacturers, Owners and Operators

Within ANSI A92, there are three standards affecting the MEWP industry and its stakeholders—the A92.20, covering design; the A92.22, covering safe use; and the A92.24, covering training. Notably, manufacturers must address design changes that impact MEWP wind ratings, chassis angle and load capacity.

Under these new standards, MEWPs are classified differently. MEWPs are divided into Group A for those with platforms that move vertically but stay inside the tipping line, and Group B for all other MEWPs – typically, boom-type equipment where the platform extends past the tipping line.

Within each of these groups, machines are separated into types: Type 1 for those that travel only in the stowed position, Type 2 for those that can travel while elevated but controlled from the chassis, and Type 3 for those that can travel while elevated but controlled from the work platform.

When it comes to safe use and training, machine owners and operators will have their own sets of responsibilities with which to comply. Dealers and rental companies will need to update their training procedures and onboarding manuals to support new requirements and train employees on new machine features and the new standards. They must also offer familiarization to customers who rent, lease or buy this equipment.

Owners and operators must meet all new training requirements, participate in extensive planning to consider machine choice and application, and perform site risk assessments for all MEWP operations and training procedures.

Anyone qualified under current standards will not be qualified under the new standards until they undergo additional training. While current regulations require all operators in the industry to go through safety training, the new standards will require everyone who supervises MEWP operators to also be trained and possess in-depth knowledge of the equipment. Examples of the knowledge required by occupants includes being well-informed about hazards associated with MEWPs, unsafe ground conditions or electrical hazards, and how to properly lower the machine in case something happens to the operator.

Operator training can be broken down into three segments: theory, practice and evaluation. The theory segment can be learned in a classroom or online and includes training on the entire safe-use standard and its application to each machine. The practice segment includes applying this knowledge for proper hands-on experience and machine operation. The evaluation segment includes proper documentation of success in the previous two training segments.

The Time is Now

ANSI A92 standards were published a year in advance of the December 2019 effective date, giving companies a year to become compliant. Many companies have already begun to implement these changes. However, many have not even started.

From a training and safe-use perspective, there is no reason to wait until that deadline gets closer. Everyone involved with MEWPs – no matter the industry – should start implementing the safe use policies and practices right now.

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The Gold Award

Our insurance company, Raffles, presents Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards each year for the top performers in each category. The scores are tabulated using the Risk Assessment scores, the Injury Rates, the DART rates, the attendance to the insurance workshops, and several other insurance metrics.

Gregory Poole has received the Silver award for the last two years, but it was a matter of time before our safety culture improvements would get us to the Gold. This year we were presented with the Gold Award and I wanted to thank everyone at Gregory Poole for helping to bring us from middle of the pack to the best in class. Not only did we win the Gold for our group, we had the third highest score of all the members!

RALEIGH, NC – Gregory Poole Lift Systems has been awarded the prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award for 2019, based on their accomplishments in 2018.  For the ninth consecutive year, since the Award’s inception, Gregory Poole Lift Systems has earned an MVP Award from the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association).  

Award recipients must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the association’s membership earning the award.   As a 2019 MVP, Gregory Poole Lift Systems has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism and good stewardship.

To qualify for the annual MVP Award companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees and suppliers.  They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas:

• Industry Advocacy
• Customer Service & Safety Practices
• Business Networking
• Continuing Education
• Business Best Practices

“MHEDA MVP winners are among an elite group of distributors that have reached a pinnacle of the best service to customers combined with industry leading business practices,” said Doug Carson, 2018 MHEDA Chairman of the Board and VP of Marketing & Sales for Fallsway Equipment Company in Akron, OH.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Gregory Poole Lift Systems is a full-service provider of material handling solutions throughout eastern North and South Carolina, Virginia and portions of West Virginia. For more information about Gregory Poole Lift Systems, please visit www.gregorypoolelift.com.

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of the independent material handling distributor.  MHEDA represents close 650 companies in the material handling equipment business.  Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices.  For more information, visit www.mheda.org.

This award honors Yale® dealers that have exhibited focused leadership, and continue to drive their customers to the highest level of performance in all functional areas of materials handling. To receive the award, dealers must meet rigorous business practice standards and performance criteria which are assessed and modified annually to ensure alignment with evolving customer expectations and heightened industry demands.

“Our entrepreneurial, exclusive independent dealer network is a definite competitive advantage and integral to providing the expert knowledge and support that drives customer satisfaction and attracts new business. Every year, the Dealer of Excellence recipients demonstrate their ability to enhance their capabilities, meet the increasingly demanding criteria and stand out among a remarkably talented group of dealers,” said Bob Sattler, Vice President, Dealer Business Development.

This annual award recognizes top-performing dealers across the country that drive their organizations to the highest level of sales and service performance.To be named a Hyster Dealer of Distinction, companies must meet defined business practices and overall rigorous performance standards that are updated annually to keep pace with evolving customer expectations and industry dynamics.

Hyster dealers - and the people they employ - deeply understand customer applications. They are passionate about our industry and dedicated to helping keep customer operations moving and costs under control. These dealers exemplify a bold, entrepreneurial spirit and quest for excellence. We’re delighted to honor their outstanding achievement,” said Bob Sattler, Vice President, Dealer Business Development.

Raleigh, NC – Gregory Poole Lift Systems has been awarded the prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award for 2018. This is the 8th consecutive year we've received the honor, being named an MVP each year since the inception of the program. In fact, Gregory Poole Equipment Company was the very first MVP winner named when the awards program began in 2011-2012 by the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association).

Award recipients must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the association’s membership earning the award. As a 2018 MVP, Gregory Poole has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism and good stewardship.

To qualify for the annual MVP Award companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas:

• Industry Advocacy
• Customer Service & Safety Practices
• Business Networking
• Continuing Education
• Business Best Practices

"MHEDA MVP winners represent the very best in dealership management,” said Buddy Smith, 2017 MHEDA Chairman of the Board and CEO of CMH Services in Columbia, SC. “These dealers have demonstrated their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their business.”

About Gregory Poole Lift Systems

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Gregory Poole Lift Systems is a full-service provider of material handling solutions throughout eastern North and South Carolina, Virginia and portions of West Virginia. Gregory Poole represents the full line of Hyster and Yale equipment, from electric pallet jacks and reach trucks to the most rugged container handler and reach stacker. The company’s complementary warehouse products, specialty material handling equipment, extensive parts inventory, OSHA training programs, service programs and rental fleet ensure that it delivers comprehensive solutions that drive efficiency for its customers. For more information about Gregory Poole Lift Systems, please visit www.gregorypoolelift.com.

About MHEDA

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of the independent material handling distributor. MHEDA represents close 650 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices. For more information, visit www.mheda.org.

This award honors Yale® dealers that have exhibited focused leadership, and continue to drive their customers to the highest level of performance in all functional areas of materials handling. To receive the award, dealers must meet rigorous business practice standards and performance criteria which are assessed and modified annually to ensure alignment with evolving customer expectations and heightened industry demands.

“Our entrepreneurial, exclusive independent dealer network is a definite competitive advantage and integral to providing the expert knowledge and support that drives customer satisfaction and attracts new business. Every year, the Dealer of Excellence recipients demonstrate their ability to enhance their capabilities, meet the increasingly demanding criteria and stand out among a remarkably talented group of dealers,” said Bob Sattler, Vice President, Dealer Business Development.

This annual award recognizes top-performing dealers across the country who drive their organizations to the highest level of sales and service performance. To be named a Hyster Dealer of Distinction, companies must meet defined business practices and overall rigorous performance standards that are updated annually to keep pace with evolving customer expectations and industry dynamics.

"Hyster dealers - and the people they employ - deeply understand customer applications. They are passionate about our industry and dedicated to helping keep customer operations moving and costs under control. These dealers exemplify a bold, entrepreneurial spirit and quest for excellence. We’re delighted to honor their outstanding achievement,” said Bob Sattler, Vice President, Dealer Business Development.