The terms EWP and MEWP are used interchangeably on most sites, but behind the label is a structured classification system that determines what licence an operator needs, what inspection regime applies, and what design standard the machine was built to. Understanding the categories helps you select the right machine, comply with the correct rules, and avoid using a machine outside its intended application.
EWP vs MEWP: the terminology
EWP (Elevating Work Platform) is the traditional Australian term, still widely used by Safe Work Australia and state regulators. MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) is the international term adopted in the current edition of the relevant Australian Standard for the design and manufacture of this equipment. In practice, both terms describe the same category of access equipment on Australian work sites.
Classification by movement type
The broadest classification distinguishes machines by how they move the platform relative to the chassis.
Group A machines move the platform primarily in a vertical direction — the platform rises directly above its base with limited or no horizontal overhang. Scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts are the primary examples. Because the platform stays inside the machine's footprint, they are inherently more stable under load and are the standard choice for indoor work on level surfaces.
Group B machines can position the platform with a horizontal offset from the base — the platform extends beyond the machine's footprint. Articulating boom lifts, telescopic boom lifts, and truck-mounted EWPs all fall in this group. The horizontal offset introduces a tipping moment that must be managed through outriggers, counterweights, or the machine's inherent stability system.
Classification by mobility
EWPs are also classified by how the whole machine moves around the site:
- Vehicle-mounted (truck-mounted): the EWP is permanently mounted to a road-registered truck or van. The truck drives to site; outriggers deploy before the boom is raised. Most truck-mounted EWPs are articulating or telescopic boom types.
- Self-propelled: the machine drives itself around the site using its own drive system. Scissor lifts, articulating boom lifts and rough-terrain boom lifts are the common self-propelled types.
- Trailer-mounted: the EWP is towed to site behind a vehicle, then deployed using outriggers or stabilisers. Common for compact boom lifts used by electrical contractors and councils.
- Spider lifts: tracked, compact machines with extendable legs that can set up on uneven ground and fit through narrow openings. Used in heritage buildings, indoor construction, and constrained outdoor sites.
Classification and operator licensing
In most Australian states, operating a boom-type EWP above a certain platform height requires a specific licence or high risk work (HRW) licence. Scissor lifts and vertical masts are typically operated under a general safety induction or ticket rather than an HRW licence — because they do not have the horizontal overhang of a boom lift.
Vehicle-mounted EWPs add the requirement to hold an appropriate driver's licence for the truck itself. A licensed EWP operator on a truck-mounted machine must also be licensed to drive the vehicle.
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.