Aerial Lifts

Aerial forklifts might be used to accomplish numerous distinctive tasks executed in hard to reach aerial spaces. A few of the duties associated with this type of jack include performing daily repair on buildings with prominent ceilings, repairing phone and utility lines, lifting heavy shelving units, and pruning tree branches. A ladder might also be used for some of the aforementioned tasks, although aerial lifts offer more security and strength when properly used.

There are a lot of models of aerial hoists available on the market depending on what the task required involves. Painters sometimes use scissor aerial lifts for example, which are classified as mobile scaffolding, effective in painting trim and reaching the 2nd story and above on buildings. The scissor aerial lifts use criss-cross braces to stretch and enlarge upwards. There is a platform attached to the top of the braces that rises simultaneously as the criss-cross braces elevate.

Cherry pickers and bucket trucks are another variety of the aerial hoist. Typically, they contain a bucket at the end of a long arm and as the arm unfolds, the attached bucket platform rises. Lift trucks use a pronged arm that rises upwards as the lever is moved. Boom lift trucks have a hydraulic arm that extends outward and hoists the platform. Every one of these aerial lift trucks require special training to operate.

Through the Occupational Safety & Health Association, also labeled OSHA, instruction courses are on hand to help ensure the workers meet occupational values for safety, system operation, inspection and maintenance and machine weight capacities. Workforce receive qualifications upon completion of the course and only OSHA certified employees should run aerial hoists. The Occupational Safety & Health Organization has formed guidelines to uphold safety and prevent injury while utilizing aerial platform lifts. Common sense rules such as not utilizing this apparatus to give rides and ensuring all tires on aerial lift trucks are braced so as to hinder machine tipping are mentioned within the guidelines.

Unfortunately, statistics reveal that more than 20 aerial lift operators pass away each year while operating and nearly ten percent of those are commercial painters. The majority of these incidents were caused by inadequate tie bracing, for that reason some of these may well have been prevented. Operators should make sure that all wheels are locked and braces as a critical security precaution to prevent the device from toppling over.

Additional guidelines include marking the surrounding area of the device in an observable way to protect passers-by and to guarantee they do not come too close to the operating machine. It is crucial to ensure that there are also 10 feet of clearance amid any electrical cables and the aerial hoist. Operators of this machinery are also highly recommended to always wear the appropriate security harness when up in the air.

Click to Download the pdf