A stopped EWP changes the day's plan, but guessing at the fault can make a bad situation worse. This guide is for the person coordinating the call for help: first make sure the site response is in the right hands, then collect the facts a technician needs to assess the job. It is not a troubleshooting or rescue procedure.
Put people and the site plan first
Stop using the machine and keep others from using it. Alert the site supervisor and follow the site's isolation and reporting process. Do not bypass a fault to finish the shift. If anyone is stranded at height, injured or exposed to an immediate hazard, activate the site emergency plan and contact emergency services where needed. Rescue and emergency controls are for competent people acting under that plan, not for someone following a web checklist.
If the machine is marked out of service, leave its status visible and follow the site's rules for who can clear it. For the distinction between warning tags and the process for returning a machine to use, read the guide to out-of-service and danger tags.
Record what happened without investigating the fault
Write down when the problem appeared, what the machine was doing just before it stopped, and any display message, warning light, unusual sound or visible damage already noticed. Record whether anyone is still aloft and whether the machine is accessible, but do not attempt to reproduce the failure. Note who has been informed and any incident or defect reference used on site.
Have these details ready for the call if they are safely available:
- Site address, entry gate, contact person and phone number, plus any access or induction requirements.
- Machine make, model and serial or fleet number from existing records or a plate you can read without approaching a hazard.
- Machine type and whether it is hired or owned; name of the hire provider if applicable.
- A brief description of the symptom and any message or fault code already visible.
- Whether people are affected, the machine's current position and any site restriction that would affect access.
- Photos of the display or visible damage only if they can be taken from a safe position.
Ask for an assessment, not an assumed repair
Pass those details to the emergency EWP breakdown team so they can discuss access and the next step. An on-site visit may be appropriate for diagnosis and work that is practical at the site; some faults need workshop attention and recovery instead. The scope and timing depend on the machine, location and assessment, so ask what can actually be arranged rather than assuming an immediate fix.
For faults that require a scoped repair after diagnosis, see how mechanical EWP repairs are assessed and quoted. Keep the machine out of use until the appropriate person has confirmed and documented its return to service under the site's process.
This guide is general information prepared by EWP Australia and is grounded in publicly available Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia material. It is not a substitute for the current published edition of the relevant standard or for site-specific engineering advice. Always work from the current standard and consult a competent person for your specific equipment and application.