Ben Hirst, director and founder of Horizon Platforms, recently delivered a thought-provoking presentation at IPAF’s Elevation UK event.
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"When we tell a story that's rooted in a real-life event, we let listeners into that moment. We feel the atmosphere, we gain a deeper understanding of how things occurred.
"Stories truly create lasting memories, deliver valuable lessons, and, most importantly, spark change. That’s what we are hoping to achieve with the #ShareYourStory campaign.”
In his Elevation presentation, Hirst shared a personal and eye-opening account from his time leading Horizon Platforms. The story, which is now at the heart of IPAF's #ShareYourStory campaign, serves as a reminder of how real-world experiences can enhance training, improve safety awareness, and ultimately save lives.
A story that could have been a tragedy
Hirst recounted an incident that occurred on a brisk morning in March 2021 at Horizon's facility in West Yorkshire.
At 5:15 a.m., a driver team was preparing a 26-tonne vehicle for a delivery to Manchester.
Despite being trained to appropriate safety standards and using recognised good practices at the start of the job, a lapse occurred. A JLG Power Tower lift, weighing more than 340kg, was incorrectly loaded without the proper safety measures.
The winch was detached early, and the lift was left unsecured on the vehicle, relying only on the pedestrian brake to keep it in place. Had the PAV collided with anyone at the base of the ramp, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
"What we don’t see from the footage [of the incident] is that the platform was reloaded without proper inspection by a qualified engineer, and the driver headed off to site," Hirst explained.
"It was only after another driver, who was feeling increasingly uncomfortable, reported his concerns to the transport manager that the delivery was thankfully stopped before the machine reached its destination. This prevented a potential chain reaction of negative events.
"Thankfully, this didn’t turn out to be a major incident, and there are no laws in the land that prevent the sharing this story with you today. And there, I believe, lies a very big opportunity for the industry. I believe we can make a real shift in the culture of our industry – a shift towards transparency, a shift towards storytelling, and a shift towards increased learning from when things did not go so well."
The power of learning from real-life experiences
Hirst’s story is now part of an animated video analysis, created by IPAF to illustrate what went wrong and what should have been done differently. The video provides a clear breakdown of the incident and offers a timely example of how storytelling can turn mistakes into wide-reaching, valuable lessons.
Furthermore, Hirst hopes the industry can embrace a culture of shared learning and transparency, encouraging colleagues to reflect on their own experiences and contribute to the growing knowledge pool that can prevent future accidents.
Join the #ShareYourStory campaign
Hirst’s story is just one of many that could inspire safety improvements across the powered access industry.
IPAF’s #ShareYourStory campaign invites professionals to share their own experiences – be it incidents, near-misses, or valuable lessons learned. By doing so, contributors play an essential role in creating impactful safety and training materials that can resonate globally.
To share your story, visit IPAF’s #ShareYourStory page. Simply provide details about your experience, including the key lessons learned. Your input could lead to the development of the next critical safety resource.
Alternatively, visit IPAF’s Accident Reporting Portal for worldwide anonymous reporting and monitoring of incidents involving powered access equipment including mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs) and construction hoists (CHs).
A future of safety through storytelling
Hirst’s message is a reminder that safety is not just about regulations and training. It is about culture, communication, and understanding the pressures workers face on a daily basis. By utilising storytelling, the powered access industry can achieve a new level of transparency and collaboration.
Let’s shape the future of our industry together. Share your story, watch the detailed incident breakdown video, and help ensure that the lessons learned today will prevent the accidents of tomorrow.
Your story matters. Together, we can make the powered access industry safer for everyone. #ShareYourStory today.
