Mobile Elevating Work Platforms: Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety
Avoid accidents and hazards by learning how to safely operate and inspect aerial and scissor lifts
If your team have to get off of the ground to complete jobs in hard to reach workspaces, then you need to make sure your people have the knowledge to work at heights safely.
Operating aerial lifts safely begins with preventive maintenance and conditioning of machinery, and there are a lot of considerations before even turning on the key, but the majority of aerial lift accidents happen because of a lack of training or inattention.
The most common hazards involving aerial lifts are falls, tip-overs, ejections, structural failure, and electrocution. Inexperience with equipment is another common factor in aerial lift accidents. At a minimum you need to be familiar with correct lift operation, how to perform inspections, and knowledge of manufacturers’ requirements.
Audience
An aerial lift is any vehicle-mounted device that elevates personnel to perform work in high places. Types of lifts include extendable boom platforms, vertical towers, and scissor lifts. Aerial lifts are useful for many jobs in general industry, like cleaning, maintenance, inspection, stock picking, etc. But, if you make a living as a painter, HVAC tech, or electrician, then you likely spend a lot of time on aerial lifts.
