Safely operating an aerial lift

Take 5 for Safety is a monthly article designed to give equipment and event rental stores the information they need to conduct a five-minute safety meeting on a particular topic. Below are talking points for this month’s meeting. At the bottom of this article, you’ll find a sign-up sheet where attendance of the meeting can be recorded.

Introduction: An aerial lift is any vehicle-mounted device used to elevate personnel, including:

• Extendable boom platforms
• Aerial ladders
• Articulating (jointed) boom platforms
• Vertical towers
• Any combination of the above

Hazards associated with aerial lifts that can lead to personal injury or death:

• Fall from elevated level
• Objects falling from lifts
• Tip-overs
• Ejections from the lift platform
• Structural failures (collapses)
• Electric shock (electrocutions)
• Entanglement hazards
• Contact with objects
• Contact with ceilings and other overhead objects

What to do while operating an aerial lift
Fall protection:

• Ensure that access gates or openings are closed.
• Stand firmly on the floor of the bucket or lift platform.
• Do not climb on or lean over guardrails or handrails.
• Do not use planks, ladders or other devices as a working position.
• Use a body harness or a restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or bucket.
• Do not belt-off to adjacent structures or poles while in the bucket.

Operation/traveling/loading:

• Always look in the direction of travel.
• Do not use the aerial lift as a crane.
• Do not carry objects larger than the platform.
• Do not exceed the load-capacity limits. Take the combined weight of the worker(s), tools and materials into account when calculating the load.
• Do not drive with the lift platform raised unless the manufacturer’s instructions allow this.
• Do not operate lower-level controls unless permission is obtained from the worker(s) in the lift except in emergencies.
• Do not exceed vertical or horizontal reach limits.
• Do not operate an aerial lift in high winds above those recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not override hydraulic, mechanical or electrical safety devices.

Overhead protection:

• Be aware of overhead clearance and overhead objects.
• Do not position aerial lifts between overhead hazards if possible.
• Treat all overhead power lines and communication cables as energized and stay at least 10 ft. away.
• Ensure that the power utility or power line workers de-energize power lines in the vicinity of the work.

Stability in the work zone:

• Set outriggers on pads or on a level, solid surface.
• Set brakes when outriggers are used.
• Use wheel chocks on sloped surfaces when it is safe to do so.
• Set up work zone warnings, such as cones and signs, when necessary to warn others.

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)