Aerial lifts are the forefront tools used for accessing hard-to-reach places in the construction industry. It enables cargo and material movement on different surfaces. Depending on the needs, it can also store resources and materials.
Aerial tools like spider lift, scissor lift, boom lift, personnel lift, cherry picker, etc. are the most useful yet critical apparatuses so far.
The accidents associated with the operators of these machines are quite alarming. The construction sector has reported increasing number of mishaps from different types of family housing, commercial building, and public works construction.
These machines are frequently used for a lot of construction purposes but remember that without appropriate precaution, these may lead you to danger. Subsequently, aerial lift operators pay too much attention to on getting the work done swiftly so, they tend to neglect their job’s fundamentals.
However, there are lot of things to remember but here is a wrap up of some important tips to ponder before roaring these machines to life:
Safety gears
To prevent the operators from being ejected or pulled from the basket basically, remember to always put on the hard hat, body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket. This is the easiest one yet overlooking this basic rule is a wrong move.
Ground Stability.
There are many possible factors affecting the ground instability such as bumps and floors obstructions, untamped earth fills, ditches, drop-offs or holes, debris, etc. To avoid these factors, the operator should look into the direction and maintain a clear view path, making sure that the ground is firm and level. Also, he should keep a safe distance from drop-offs, holes, depressions, ramps, etc. because these holes will cause a wheel or two to drop off suddenly.
Proper Operator Training.
Aerial lift equipment is a sure precarious machine to operate so one cannot just maneuver it without the proper training and few instructions from the manufacturer. Some important details from the manual may be taken for granted by operators, like overloading the maximum load capacity of the equipment and using a damaged and slightly repaired machine. However, manufacturers may allow other untrained people to operate these machines, but in the end, trained people have may have less risks to accident issues.
Equipment Maintenance.
Low oil, leaky fluids, low tire pressure, power lines, controls, safety devices, max load capacity and a lot more of machine needs, should be looked closely on. Due to the machines’ versatility, operators must take ample time to consider the machines’ prerequisites and be keen enough to follow instructions. The maintenance itself is quite tedious but with this kind of job, there should be no room for insignificant mistakes.
Accidents are everywhere and they are truly inevitable. There are many lives at stake in this type of job. Some operators who have been to an accident were lucky enough to regain their normal life but some are not capable to do that, though.
However, aerial lifts are finding its way quickly to the consumer market now, which is good news for different construction industries as well. Thus, keep your manuals in the machine, not in your office!