Aerial Lifts

Aerial lift trucks might be used to accomplish a lot of distinctive tasks executed in hard to reach aerial places. A few of the duties associated with this type of jack include performing daily preservation on buildings with elevated ceilings, repairing phone and power lines, lifting heavy shelving units, and trimming tree branches. A ladder might also be used for many of the aforementioned projects, although aerial lifts offer more safety and strength when correctly used.

There are a few different versions of aerial hoists accessible, each being able to perform slightly different tasks. Painters will usually use a scissor lift platform, which can be used to get in touch with the 2nd story of buildings. The scissor aerial jacks use criss-cross braces to stretch out and enlarge upwards. There is a table attached to the top of the braces that rises simultaneously as the criss-cross braces raise.

Cherry pickers and bucket trucks are a different kind of the aerial lift. Typically, they contain a bucket at the end of an elongated arm and as the arm unfolds, the attached bucket platform rises. Lift trucks utilize a pronged arm that rises upwards as the lever is moved. Boom lift trucks have a hydraulic arm which extends outward and lifts the platform. All of these aerial hoists have need of special training to operate.

Through the Occupational Safety & Health Association, also called OSHA, education programs are on hand to help make certain the workforce meet occupational principles for safety, machine operation, inspection and maintenance and machine load capacities. Employees receive qualifications upon completion of the course and only OSHA certified employees should drive aerial hoists. The Occupational Safety & Health Organization has formed rules to uphold safety and prevent injury when utilizing aerial lifts. Common sense rules such as not using this piece of equipment to give rides and ensuring all tires on aerial lift trucks are braced in order to hinder machine tipping are mentioned within the rules.

Unfortunately, statistics reveal that more than 20 aerial hoist operators pass away each year when operating and almost ten percent of those are commercial painters. The bulk of these mishaps were triggered by improper tie bracing, for that reason several of these could have been prevented. Operators should make sure that all wheels are locked and braces as a critical security precaution to stop the device from toppling over.

Other rules involve marking the surrounding area of the machine in an obvious way to safeguard passers-by and to ensure they do not come too close to the operating machine. It is imperative to ensure that there are also 10 feet of clearance among any power lines and the aerial lift. Operators of this machinery are also highly recommended to always wear the appropriate security harness while up in the air.

Click to Download the pdf