If you take a look at WorkSafe's Mobile Elevated Platform Best Practice Guideline it says:

"Use an appropriate harness system if someone could fall from the MEWP. Secure the harness to a certified anchor point within the MEWP." In practice for this we require a harness to be used at all times when operating a MEWP, and you must be attached to the anchor point whenever the MEWP is moving, or going and down.

Section 3.3 of the document goes into more detail also

Thanks for that Chris

No they do not have to unless your risk assessment deems it necessary.

Hi Shona,

There a few things to consider with this.
-The 'Best Practice Guidelines' that Chris mentioned
- Risk assessment as mentioned by Gary
- the manufacturer's instructions

A scissor lift is the only EWP where you may not have to wear a harness, but this would be determined by a risk assessment and the manufacturer's instructions - there is no yes or no answer, but it is all stated in the BPG's.

As mentioned it will be dependent on the risk assessment, but your default position should be that a harness and lanyard is to be used (unless there is a risk of the EWP falling into water).

When assessing the pros and cons of the use of harness/lanyards, consider the normal operations of the EWP and also what is needed in the event of a rescue at height due to an unresponsive person or machinery.

Article I found on ewpa.org.nz

The simple answer to your question is: No. Regardless of whether there is a 15kN anchor point or not, where a risk assessment shows that there is no risk of a fall, a harness does not need to be used. Note that this applies to scissor lifts only, not to other MEWP types. The primary means of fall protection on a scissor lift is the handrail around the platform.