ANSI Pushes A92 Aerial Work Platform Standards Effective Date to June 1: What Construction and Rental Businesses Must Know

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has once again delayed the effective date for the new A92 safety standards for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), pushing the compliance deadline to June 1, 2020. This latest extension follows a formal vote by the ANSI Accredited Standards Developers (ASDs), with 66 of 100 voters supporting the move. For professionals working with aerial lifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, and other elevated work platforms, understanding these evolving standards is critical to maintaining both safety and regulatory compliance on every jobsite. Just as new product standards reshape everyday building technologies, the A92 updates represent a significant shift in how the industry approaches worker safety at height.

Understanding the ANSI A92 Standards

The ANSI A92 standards govern the design, manufacture, safe operation, training, and maintenance of mobile elevating work platforms across North America. Originally approved in November 2018, these standards replaced older regulations that had not kept pace with the rapid evolution of aerial lift technology. The updated framework introduces several notable changes that affect manufacturers, rental companies, contractors, and equipment operators alike.

Scope of the A92 Standards

The A92 standards cover a wide range of equipment types and operational requirements. They apply to all MEWPs used in construction, maintenance, industrial, and commercial settings, including:

• Boom lifts (articulating and telescopic)
• Scissor lifts
• Vertical mast lifts
• Personnel lifts
• Towable boom lifts

The standards address everything from design parameters and load capacities to operator training requirements and inspection protocols. Similar to how ANSI has updated structural construction standards for wood buildings, the A92 revisions reflect a comprehensive rethinking of safety in their domain.

Key Components of the New Framework

The new A92 standards consist of several interrelated documents that together form a complete safety framework:

1. A92.20 – Design, calculations, safety requirements, and test methods for MEWPs
2. A92.22 – Safe use of MEWPs for operators and supervisors
3. A92.24 – Training requirements for operators, supervisors, and trainers
4. Manual of Responsibilities (MoR) – Defines responsibilities for all parties involved with MEWPs

Together, these documents create a cohesive system that clarifies the obligations of manufacturers, owners, lessors, lessees, and operators. The goal is to eliminate gaps in responsibility that have historically contributed to accidents and near-misses on jobsites.

The Appeal Process and Resulting Delays

Despite broad industry support for updated safety standards, the rollout of the A92 framework has been anything but smooth. Two separate appeals filed shortly after the standards were approved triggered a cascade of delays that has pushed the effective date back multiple times.

ARA Appeal Over Manual of Responsibilities

The American Rental Association (ARA) filed one of the two appeals, specifically opposing the Manual of Responsibilities (MoR) section. The ARA raised concerns that the MoR language placed disproportionate obligations on rental companies and equipment lessors. In the rental model, equipment changes hands frequently, and the ARA argued that assigning certain responsibilities to lessors without corresponding control over equipment use created an unreasonable liability burden.

The rental industry plays a massive role in aerial lift deployment across North America. Rental companies supply MEWPs to contractors of all sizes, from small residential crews to major commercial general contractors. Any ambiguity or imbalance in responsibility allocation directly affects how rental houses structure their contracts, training programs, and equipment maintenance schedules.

Tutus Solutions Appeal Over Manufacturer Authorization

Tutus Solutions, an aerial lift training and consulting firm, filed the second appeal. Their objection centers on the stipulation that additions or modifications to MEWPs cannot be made without the manufacturer’s explicit permission. Tutus argues that this provision could stifle innovation in aftermarket safety enhancements and limit the ability of third-party specialists to improve equipment safety through approved modifications.

This debate touches on a fundamental tension in equipment safety regulation. On one side, manufacturers maintain that only they fully understand the engineering tolerances and failure modes of their machines. On the other side, end users and specialized service providers argue that real-world operational experience sometimes reveals safety improvements that the original manufacturer had not considered.

Timeline of Delays

The latest delay sets a new deadline of June 1, 2020, with appeal hearings scheduled to commence before that date. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the appeals remain unresolved as of the vote, and the hearings process will now proceed to reach a final determination.

Implications for Equipment Rental and Construction Firms

Whether your company rents aerial equipment, operates MEWPs on jobsites, or manages a fleet of lifts, the A92 standards will affect your daily operations. The delay provides additional time to prepare, but the starting line has not moved indefinitely. Here is what different stakeholders need to consider.

Rental Companies

Rental houses face the most immediate operational impact. Under the new framework, lessors carry specific documentation and training verification responsibilities. Key action items include:

• Reviewing rental contracts to ensure responsibility allocation aligns with A92 requirements
• Updating equipment inspection and maintenance documentation
• Developing training programs or partnerships to certify operators
• Ensuring that all MEWP fleet units meet A92 design and labeling requirements
• Creating clear handover procedures that document equipment condition at time of rental

General Contractors and Subcontractors

For construction firms that operate aerial lifts, the A92 standards impose new training and supervision requirements. Employers must ensure that every operator receives training that meets the A92.24 standard and that supervisors understand their obligations under A92.22. This goes beyond basic machine operation to include hazard recognition, site-specific risk assessment, and emergency response procedures.

Just as structural engineering standards evolve to address emerging risks like tornado resistance, the A92 updates respond to real patterns of workplace injuries and fatalities. Data from OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently shows that falls from elevation remain one of the leading causes of construction worker deaths. Properly trained operators working on compliant equipment dramatically reduce this risk.

Equipment Manufacturers

Manufacturers must ensure that all new MEWP units comply with A92.20 design and testing requirements. The standards introduce updated stability criteria, load sensing requirements, and control system specifications that may require engineering changes to existing product lines. Manufacturers also bear responsibility for providing clear documentation on authorized modifications and aftermarket additions.

Preparing for Compliance Beyond June 1

The June 1 deadline gives the industry roughly three additional months to prepare for full implementation. Progressive companies are not waiting for the deadline to arrive before taking action. The standards themselves represent years of work by industry experts, and the core safety principles they embody are not new even if the specific language is still being finalized.

Training Programs and Certification

One of the most significant changes in the A92 framework is the emphasis on formal, documented training. Under A92.24, all MEWP operators must complete training that covers:

1. Equipment-specific controls and safety features
2. Hazard identification and mitigation strategies
3. Proper pre-start inspection procedures
4. Safe operation within the platform’s work envelope
5. Fall protection equipment requirements and usage
6. Emergency descent and rescue protocols

Training providers, including companies like Tutus Solutions whose appeal highlights the importance of qualified third-party instruction, will play a central role in helping the industry scale up to meet these requirements. The standards anticipate a mix of employer-provided training, manufacturer programs, and independent training organizations.

Documentation and Recordkeeping

The A92 standards place a premium on documentation. Training records, inspection logs, maintenance histories, and pre-operational checklists must all be maintained and available for review. For rental companies this means tracking not just their own equipment status but also verifying that lessees have received appropriate training before taking possession of a MEWP.

Architectural and construction projects of all scales benefit from well-documented standards compliance, whether the question is material selection or equipment safety. Building a culture of documentation is not just about passing an inspection. It protects workers, reduces liability exposure, and creates an auditable trail that demonstrates due diligence.

Equipment Inspection and Maintenance

The A92.22 standard requires that MEWPs undergo regular inspections at defined intervals. These include pre-start inspections by the operator before each shift, frequent inspections by a qualified person at intervals determined by the manufacturer, and annual inspections by a certified professional. Any MEWP that fails inspection must be immediately removed from service until the deficiency is corrected.

For construction firms that own their equipment, this means establishing a preventive maintenance program that aligns with the A92 schedule. For rental customers, it means verifying that the equipment they receive carries current inspection documentation and that they understand their responsibility to perform daily pre-start checks.

Risk Assessment and Site Planning

Supervisors and site safety managers must incorporate MEWP-specific risk assessments into their overall jobsite safety planning under the new standards. Factors to evaluate include ground stability, overhead obstructions, wind conditions, proximity to power lines, traffic control, and fall protection anchorage points. The A92 standards do not prescribe specific outcomes for every scenario but require that a formal risk assessment be conducted and documented before MEWP operation begins.

This principle of risk-based decision-making reflects a broader trend in construction safety standards. Rather than providing a checklist of rigid requirements, modern standards equip safety professionals with frameworks for evaluating site-specific conditions and making informed judgments. The A92 update brings aerial work platform safety in line with this contemporary approach.

Staying Informed as the Standards Evolve

The June 1 effective date is not necessarily the final word. The appeal process has already demonstrated that industry stakeholders can influence the timeline. Companies should monitor ANSI announcements and A92 committee communications for updates on appeal hearing outcomes and any further revisions to the standards language. Trade associations, including the ARA and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, are valuable sources of guidance and advocacy during this transition period.

The standards development process, while sometimes messy and contentious, ultimately produces better outcomes when diverse voices participate. The appeals and delays that have marked the A92 rollout are not signs of failure. They reflect an industry grappling with complex safety challenges and working to find balanced solutions that protect workers without imposing impractical burdens on the businesses that employ them.

Whether you are a rental house manager updating contract language, a contractor scheduling operator training, or a safety professional revising your company’s fall protection program, the time to act is now. The June 1 deadline will arrive regardless of how prepared any individual company happens to be. Those who use the remaining time wisely will be best positioned to transition smoothly into the new safety landscape.