Irish contractors and powered-access rental companies are gaining greater access to secondary guarding technology designed to reduce the risk of operator crushing and entrapment when working at height.

The development follows Equipment Safety Systems’ appointment of Mullingar-based Certek as its Irish distributor for OverWatch and new UpWatch systems. As reported by Vertikal.net, the agreement was announced following Vertikal Days 2026, where EQSS launched UpWatch. Certek will provide sales, spare parts, training, demonstrations and technical familiarisation across Ireland.

Founded in 2004, Certek specialises in the certification and inspection of aerial work platforms and provides IPAF-accredited training, servicing, refurbishment and repair. Its established Irish presence adds local inspection, training and technical expertise to EQSS’s operator-protection technology.

The Health & Safety significance is particularly strong for Irish businesses using mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). OverWatch is designed for scissor and mast lifts, while UpWatch has been developed for low-level self-propelled and push-around platforms. According to EQSS, both systems use LiDAR-based sensing to monitor operator position and intervene when a potential crushing or entrapment hazard is detected.

For rental fleets and contractors, secondary guarding can provide an additional layer of protection alongside established controls such as operator training, equipment inspection and safe systems of work. EQSS says its systems can be retrofitted to a range of compatible machines from different manufacturers, potentially allowing businesses operating mixed fleets to strengthen operator protection without replacing entire equipment fleets.

The Irish support infrastructure is also significant from a safety perspective. Certek will provide demonstrations and technical familiarisation as well as after-sales support, helping users understand the equipment and incorporate it appropriately into existing work-at-height procedures. Its inspection and servicing capabilities provide an additional local resource for businesses managing access equipment.

UpWatch extends secondary guarding into low-level access applications used for activities including fit-out, installation, maintenance and facilities management. Vertikal.net’s Vertikal Days coverage confirmed the product launch and Certek distribution agreement.

For the sector, the development demonstrates how technology, competent training and equipment management can work together to strengthen work-at-height safety. Wider Irish access to secondary guarding gives contractors and rental companies another practical tool for managing operator risks across increasingly diverse equipment fleets.

EQSS, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, develops electronic operator-protection systems for MEWPs. Its technology is used across Australia, Asia-Pacific, the UK, Europe and the United States.

Source: Vertikal.net / EQSS / Lift and Hoist International