Use a safety check list to help ensure boom lift safety
Working at high elevations with the use of an aerial lift or a boom lift can be a dangerous occupation. However, with the use of aerial lift safety guidelines, you can greatly reduce the risk of something going wrong.
With each use of an aerial or boom lift a prestart inspection of the equipment should be completed, even if the equipment is used on a daily basis. If there are any issues found during the inspection, the boom lift should be tagged to indicate that it is Out of Service, or inoperable until it can be repaired by a professional who is properly trained and certified to perform the repairs. While taking the equipment out of service may set the work schedule behind, it is more important that aerial lift safety protocols are followed.
Other important boom lift safety protocols include:
Ensure that all of the boom lifts controls are clearly marked to identify their function
Survey the area where the lift will be used so that the equipment can be positioned to avoid overhead obstructions
Only use the boom lift once it has been safely positioned on level ground
Limit use of the aerial lifts basket or platform to personnel and hand tools
Do not lift heavy loads that should be handled by a crane
Be sure to have someone act as a spotter when the work requires the boom lift to be operated near power lines
Barricade the area around the boom lift equipment so that passersby dont walk under the lift or get too close
Ensure that the boom lift platform has a fire extinguisher on it, especially when working in areas that present a fire hazard or doing work that has the potential to cause a fire
In addition to the precautions that should be followed with the aerial lift itself, there are also safety standards that should be followed by the employees operating or using the equipment to perform the high-level work, including:
No one should ever walk beneath the boom lift in order to access the basket
Do not stand or sit on the railing of the aerial lifts basket
Wear a safety harness and tying it off to the anchor point that was built into the platform by the boom lifts manufacturer
Dont rest the basket or the boom on any steel structure
Always remain alert and face the direction that the equipment is moving
While many of these protocols seem like common sense, dont become lax in checking that safety procedures have been followed. Unfortunately, accidents seem to happen most often on the days that safety checks are rushed through or steps are skipped altogether.
