When it comes to construction, choosing the right equipment for your job can save you time and money, not to mention ensure the safety of your workers. It’s important to do your homework when it comes to equipment, or you could be using a cherry picker when you should be using a crane. When it comes to picking cherry pickers, or any other equipment for your jobs site, a range of things need to be factored in and considered.
Before you pick your equipment, there’s a variety of points which should be considered;
- The construction operation
What kind of jobs will you need to use this equipment for? Do you need a particular height or weight specification? - The conditions at the job site
Does it need to be able to operate in certain conditions? How easy is it to get the equipment to the jobsite? - The project time schedule
Is the equipment going to arrive on time? Are you hiring it for a long enough period? - Balancing of interdependent equipment
Do you need the equipment to work in conjunction with something else on your jobsite? - The mobility required of the equipment
Will your require assistance to move the equipment around the jobsite?
Mistakes often arise from a misunderstanding of your equipment. When it comes to choosing a cherry picker, there are two specific types- scissor lifts and boom lifts. Scissor lifts use a criss-cross ‘scissor’ mechanism to lift a caged platform and other mechanisms that do the same job. Boom lifts are operated from the basket, allowing the operator to move from place to place (from a fixed point) in a small amount of time, without having to re-set the unit each time. If you are unsure as to the best equipment for your site, be sure to contact Power Access for technical assistance, or an obligation-free quote.
After assessing your need for a scissor lift or boom lift, you can go about assessing your site requirements. As discussed above, height, length and intended use are important factors when choosing equipment. When taking measurements, remember height is quoted as the measurement from ground level to the maximum height of the platform, plus the reach of an average person, with working height defined as platform height plus 2 metres. Length (or outreach) is defined as the measurement from the centre of the turret to the fingertips of an average person on a fully extended boom. If you are going to be working inside, be sure to measure any doors the machine will need to go through.
When operating construction equipment, such as cherry pickers, the New South Wales Government requires the operator to obtain a crane license. Before you can apply for a national license to perform high risk work, a registered training organisation must assess your training, skills and knowledge using the relevant ‘assessment instrument’ under realistic workplace conditions.
If you are hiring a cherry picker or crane for your worksite, and you’ll be operating the equipment on or above the public walkway, you’ll need to complete a crane permit application. For this kind of work, the maximum weight of any machinery proposed to operate on the footway is 1500kg (total weight, not point loads). When you apply for this crane permit, you’ll need to have the following:
- Traffic/pedestrian control plan
- All external approvals/acknowledgments or permits
- Proof of application for a works zone permit (where applicable)
- A copy of your Public Liability Insurance Certificate
- Safe work method statement &/or Material Data Safety sheets
If you intend to hire the equipment for an extended period of time, Power Access has great service benefits which will ensure the long-term quality of your hired machinery. They offer on site servicing and full workshop facilities at our Wetherill Park Branch. Power Access offers a Preventative Maintenance Program, meaning they will contact you when your quarterly service is due. And best of all, their trade qualified technicians can attend your site in fully equipped service vans and complete a 3 monthly inspection of your Elevating Work Platform. This keeps your machine in top condition and complies with Australian standards.