Are we required to follow the latest ANSI/SAIA A92 standards for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) or are they best practices?

The latest standards on MEWPs include, but are not limited to:

• ANSI/SAIA A92.22-2021, Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs); and
• ANSI/SAIA A92.24-2018, Training Requirements for the Use, Operation, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs).

The inclusion of an effective date in those standards has raised questions on whether OSHA can cite employers under the General Duty Clause (GDC) of the OSH Act for not following them, since OSHA did not incorporate these new standards into the regulations.

While OSHA can’t cite non-incorporated A92 standards directly, they can use them as a basis for building a General Duty Clause citation. On the other hand, employers may use the A92 standards to ensure they won’t receive General Duty Clause violations for issues not covered by the regulations, as they are generally recognized as best practice.