Cherry Picker Risk Assessment Template for England and Wales

A cherry picker risk assessment is a safety check you complete before operating any mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) at work. It helps you identify hazards, evaluate the risks associated with working at height, and put control measures in place to protect operators and anyone on the ground. This template for England and Wales works through cherry picker operations end to end, from equipment condition and ground stability to operator competency and environmental factors, so your team can work at height safely and meet health and safety duties.

When do you need this document?

You need a cherry picker risk assessment whenever your organisation plans to use a MEWP for any work activity. That includes routine tasks such as building inspections, window cleaning, signage installation or facade repairs, as well as construction work at height. It matters most in challenging settings: a busy site, near overhead power lines, on soft or sloping ground, or where there is pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Complete a fresh assessment when you change location, use different equipment, or when conditions differ from the ones you originally planned for.

What hazards should a cherry picker risk assessment cover?

Work through the hazards specific to your task and site, and record the control measure for each one. Common hazards include:

• Falls from the platform. Operators should use a fall-restraint harness and lanyard clipped to the correct anchor point, and never climb or lean out of the basket.
• Machine overturn. Check the ground is firm and level, use outriggers and spreader plates where fitted, and stay within the manufacturer's rated limits for reach, load and wind speed.
• Falling objects and people below. Barrier off the working area, wear head protection, and keep tools secured so nothing drops onto the ground.
• Overhead obstructions. Maintain safe clearance from power lines, structures and services, and set exclusion zones around the arc of the boom.
• Trapping and crushing. Watch for pinch points between the platform and fixed structures during operation.
• Uncontrolled movement. Keep the machine stationary while the platform is elevated, apply brakes, and set travel limits so the cherry picker cannot be moved with someone at height unless the model is rated for it.

What pre-use checks are required?

Before each shift, the operator should carry out a documented pre-use check of the cherry picker: tyres and outriggers, controls and emergency lowering, guardrails and gates, harness anchor points, and the current inspection record. Under LOLER the machine also needs a thorough examination by a competent person at set intervals, and PUWER requires it to be maintained in safe working order as work machinery. It is important to note any defect and take the machine out of use until it is put right.

Who is competent to operate a cherry picker?

Operators should hold valid IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) certification or an equivalent qualification for the category of machine, along with familiarisation on the specific model. Record who is authorised, the categories they are trained for, and their certificate expiry dates in the assessment. A trained ground person should be present who knows how to use the emergency lowering controls and can provide support and raise the alarm in an emergency.

How do you keep the assessment up to date?

A cherry picker risk assessment is a living record, not a one-off form. Review it whenever the work, the equipment, the ground conditions or the team change, after any incident or near miss, and at regular planned intervals. Keep it with the machine so operators can check it on site, and log any changes so you have a clear history. If your work also involves broader site or building hazards, pair it with a wider risk assessment form, and for method-driven tasks a risk assessment and method statement sets out both the risks and the safe steps to follow.