ISO 16653-3:2011

Mobile elevating work platforms - Design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods relative to special features - Part 3: MEWPs for orchard operations

ISO 16653:2011 specifies the design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods relevant to mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) suitable for orchard operations. It is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 16368, whose requirements it modifies, supplements or confirms. ISO 16653:2011 specifies the structural design calculations and stability criteria, construction, safety examinations and tests to be carried out before a MEWP to be used in orchard operations is first put into service. It identifies the hazards arising from the use of MEWPs in orchard operations and describes methods for the elimination or reduction of those hazards. It is applicable to single-person boom-type MEWPs, controlled from the platform and used to move a person to working positions for picking fruit and maintaining trees and trellis vines in an orchard.

Plates-formes élévatrices mobiles de personnel — Conception, calculs, exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai concernant les caractéristiques spéciales — Partie 3: PEMP pour vergers

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Jan-2011
• ICS: 53.020.99 - Other lifting equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 214 - Elevating work platforms
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 214/WG 1 - Mobile elevating work platforms
• Current Stage: 9060 - Close of review
• Completion Date: 02-Dec-2026

Overview

ISO 16653-3:2011 specifies design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) intended specifically for orchard operations. It is Part 3 of ISO 16653 and is to be used in conjunction with ISO 16368 (general MEWP design and safety requirements). The standard covers single‑person boom‑type, platform‑controlled MEWPs used to pick fruit and maintain trees and trellis vines in commercial orchards.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope & application: Applies to non‑slewing, single‑person boom MEWPs commonly based on two‑wheel drive axles with castor trailing wheels. Typical lift heights and rated loads are referenced (e.g., 2.5–4.5 m for many fruit types; avocado units up to ~6.5 m).
• Rated load calculation: Rated load = person mass (100 kg) + fruit load (minimum 45 kg) + empty fruit bag mass. Minimum rated load: 170 kg.
• Structural & fatigue: Fatigue analysis for orchard MEWPs uses a heavy‑duty cycle (normally 10 cycles) and a load spectrum factor of 1.
• Chassis and travel speed: Maximum travel speeds in elevated positions are limited and automatically reduced by height:
  • ≤ 1.5 m/s at platform heights ≤ 4.0 m
  • ≤ 1.0 m/s for > 4.0 m up to 6.5 m
  • ≤ 0.7 m/s for heights > 6.5 m
• Platform & guardrails:
  • Full perimeter protection required; top rail minimum height 0.9 m.
  • Internal guardrail cross‑section, lower and intermediate barrier dimensions and maximum openings (horizontal gaps ≤ 0.1 m) are specified to reduce fall and foot‑slip hazards.
  • Guardrails must withstand 500 N concentrated loads per person at 0.5 m intervals without permanent deformation.
  • Fruit collection bags must be self‑draining and mounted outside the platform; volume limits (fruit bag ≤ 0.15 m³) relate to stability/overload criteria.
• Controls & brakes:
  • Foot‑operated, hands‑free controls are permitted with special design and deactivation provisions (e.g., automatic deactivation when operator leaves; reactivation by separate hand control).
  • Hydraulic valves should be full‑flow, spring‑return to “off” or meet electronic safety category requirements (IEC 60947‑5‑1 category 1).
  • Overriding emergency systems must be operable from platform and base and remain active.
• Hydraulics: Boom‑lift systems are required to be single‑acting (hydraulic lift, gravity lower) to reduce instability risk.
• Marking & verification: MEWPs must be permanently marked as “designed for use in orchards only.” Stability tests must consider the least stable castor wheel position.

Applications and Users

ISO 16653-3 is intended for:

• MEWP manufacturers and design engineers (product specification, structural calculations)
• Test laboratories and certification bodies (type tests, verification)
• Safety managers, maintenance teams, and orchard operators (safe selection, operation, and inspection)
• Regulatory authorities and procurement teams specifying farm equipment safety

Related Standards

• ISO 16368:2010 (general MEWP design and safety requirements) - normative reference
• ISO 16653 Parts 1 & 2 (other special features)
• ISO 18893 (MEWP operation/inspection guidance)
• IEC 60947‑5‑1 (control device safety category)

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16653-3
First edition
2011-02-01
Mobile elevating work platforms —
Design, calculations, safety requirements
and test methods relative to special
features —
Part 3:
MEWPs for orchard operations
Plates-formes élévatrices mobiles de personnel — Conception, calculs,
exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai concernant les
caractéristiques spéciales —
Partie 3: PEMP pour vergers
Reference number
©
ISO 2011
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©  ISO 2011
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ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope.1
2 Normative references.1
3 Terms and definitions .1
4 Safety requirements and/or protective measures.2
4.1 Structural calculations.2
4.2 Chassis.2
4.3 Moment and load sensing .3
4.4 Work platform .3
4.5 Controls.4
4.6 Boom-lift hydraulic systems .5
4.7 Marking.5
5 Verification of safety requirements and/or measures .5
Annex A (informative) List of hazards .6

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 16653-3 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 214, Elevating work platforms.
ISO 16653 consists of the following parts, under the general title Mobile elevating work platforms — Design,
calculations, safety requirements and test methods relative to special features:
⎯ Part 1: MEWPs with retractable guardrail systems
⎯ Part 2: MEWPs with non-conductive (insulating) components
⎯ Part 3: MEWPs for orchard operations

iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The object of ISO 16653 is to define rules for safeguarding persons and objects against the risk of accident
associated with the operation of special-application mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).
The requirements of ISO 16653 are intended to supplement or modify those of ISO 16368 (see Clause 2).
Unless specified otherwise within this part of ISO 16653, all the relevant provisions of ISO 16368 are
applicable in addition to the provisions of this part of ISO 16653.
ISO 16653 does not repeat all the general technical rules applicable to every electrical, mechanical or
structural component.
The safety requirements of this part of ISO 16653 have been drawn up on the basis that MEWPs are
periodically maintained according to manufacturers' instructions, working conditions, frequency of use and
applicable regulations.
It is assumed that MEWPs will be checked for function daily before start of work and that they will not be put
into operation unless all required control and safety devices are available and in working order. If a MEWP is
seldom used, the checks may be made before start of work.
For the application of this part of ISO 16653, it is assumed that operators are trained and competent in the
operation of MEWPS in orchards.
Where, for clarity, an example of a safety measure is given in the text, this is not intended as the only possible
solution. Any other solution leading to an equivalent level of safety is permissible.
The specification of a MEWP for orchard operation is not intended to limit the use of other categories of
1)
MEWPs in orchards, as long as the requirements of ISO 16368 and ISO 18893 are met.

1) Mobile elevating work platforms — Safety principles, inspection, maintenance and operation
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16653-3:2011(E)

Mobile elevating work platforms — Design, calculations, safety
requirements and test methods relative to special features —
Part 3:
MEWPs for orchard operations
1 Scope
This part of ISO 16653 specifies the design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods relevant to
mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) suitable for orchard operations. It is intended to be used in
conjunction with ISO 16368, whose requirements it modifies, supplements or confirms. Unless otherwise
stated in this part of ISO 16653, the provisions of ISO 16368 apply.
This part of ISO 16553 specifies the structural design calculations and stability criteria, construction, safety
examinations and tests to be carried out before a MEWP to be used in orchard operations is first put into
service. It identifies the hazards arising from the use of MEWPs in orchard operations and describes methods
for the elimination or reduction of those hazards.
It is applicable to single-person boom-type MEWPs, controlled from the platform and used to move a person
to working positions for picking fruit and maintaining trees and trellis vines in an orchard.
NOTE These are typically non-slewing units, based on a two-wheel drive axle and a castor trailing wheel. The lift
height requirements vary depending on the plants grown and climatic conditions. MEWPs used in stone fruit, pip fruit and
citrus orchards typically will have a lift height of 2,5 m to 4,5 m. MEWPs used in avocado orchards will typically have a lift
height up to 6,5 m with occasional units of 8 m to 10 m. At harvest time, the MEWP for orchard operations is fitted with a
picking bag to collect fruit and transport it to a collection point. The rated load, including operator, is typically 170 kg to
200 kg.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (i
...