Aerial Work Platforms/Lifts are generally utilized for inspection, repair, maintenance, and construction work to lift personnel to elevations and perform work tasks. Devices like elevated work platforms are meant to move human beings, not objects or machines. There are some essential details regarding these lifts that you should be aware of. This article entails all that you would want to know about them and the precautions to be taken.
Post Contents
Types of Aerial Work Lifts
There are multiple categories of these aerial lifts, and each of them has a different design and a relatively different purpose. They are:
Vehicle Mounted Aerial Work Platform: This type of loft generally includes Aerial ladders, articulating or knuckle booms and Extendable or Telescoping Booms Mountains and hilly places are always liked by people.
Manually Propelled Aerial Work Platform: Manually Propelled Aerial Work Platform type includes Vertical or Articulating Towers.
Boom-Supported Aerial Work Platform: These lifts are generally Articulated or Knuckle Booms and Extendable or Telescoping Booms
Self-Propelled Aerial Work Platform: These platforms constitute Vertical and or Articulating Towers
What are the Possible Hazards while Working with an Elevated Work Platform?
There are several harmful effects of mismanagement while using an elevated work platform. Some of them are listed below:
- Tip Overs
- Electric Shock
- Falling from the height to the ground
- Personnel ejected from the platform
- Entanglement
- The battery maintenance can cause chemical burns
- You might get in contact with objects such as overhead obstructions by accident
- Things may fall from the lift with contacting labour below
What are the General Safety Precautions while Using an Elevated Work Platform?
Whilst using elevated work platforms, certain safe practices should be adopted. The list below gives an exhaustive compilation of all such measures to be taken.
- Only a trained operator must use an elevated work platform
- According to the manufacturer’s protocol, a pre-operation inspection should be performed
- These high lifts should be equipped with all sorts of emergency controls on the ground level
- There should be an operator’s manual on each lift
- The rotating gears, shafts, and all other moving parts which are exposed should be guarded.
- You must follow the manufacturer’s instructions about the safe transportation of the elevated work platform for highway travel.
- All those elevated work platforms that are not electrically insulated should be kept at least ten feet from the energised overhead power lines.
- The operators must position the platform far off from the vehicular traffic as well as other hazardous situations. They should use work zone warnings and traffic control measures like signs or cones as required.
- You must follow the recommendations of the manufacturer for the use of the platform in windy conditions. The general rule says that these elevated work platforms should not be operated at wind speeds more than 30 miles per hour.
- Neither should you use them during inclement weather events! You can only do so in case of a vital emergency response time.
- These work platforms should not be used for other purposes apart from those listed by the manufacturer or other equivalent organize If you mount attachments for holding tools or materials on the toe boards, platforms, or even guardrail systems. It can affect the overall weight and the proper operation of the lift.
Wrap Up
So that’s what you need to know about Elevated work lifts. It is best to try to follow these safety practices as much as possible and avoid any mishaps.
