Aerial Lifts

Aerial forklifts can be used to accomplish a lot of distinctive duties executed in hard to reach aerial places. A few of the odd jobs associated with this type of lift include performing regular maintenance on buildings with prominent ceilings, repairing phone and power lines, raising heavy shelving units, and trimming tree branches. A ladder might also be utilized for many of the aforementioned tasks, although aerial hoists provide more security and stability when correctly used.

There are a few different types of aerial hoists available, each being able to perform slightly unique tasks. Painters will sometimes use a scissor lift platform, which is able to be utilized to reach the 2nd story of buildings. The scissor aerial hoists use criss-cross braces to stretch and extend upwards. There is a platform attached to the top of the braces that rises simultaneously as the criss-cross braces lift.

Cherry pickers and bucket lift trucks are a different version of the aerial lift. Commonly, they possess a bucket at the end of a long arm and as the arm unfolds, the attached bucket platform rises. Platform lifts utilize a pronged arm that rises upwards as the handle is moved. Boom lift trucks have a hydraulic arm that extends outward and hoists the platform. All of these aerial platform lifts have need of special training to operate.

Through the Occupational Safety & Health Association, also called OSHA, education programs are offered to help ensure the workers meet occupational values for safety, system operation, inspection and maintenance and machine weight capacities. Employees receive certification upon completion of the lessons and only OSHA licensed personnel should drive aerial platform lifts. The Occupational Safety & Health Organization has established rules to maintain safety and prevent injury when utilizing aerial lifts. Common sense rules such as not utilizing this apparatus to give rides and ensuring all tires on aerial lifts are braced so as to hinder machine tipping are referred to within the guidelines.

Sadly, figures reveal that in excess of 20 aerial hoist operators pass away each year while operating and almost ten percent of those are commercial painters. The majority of these incidents were brought on by improper tie bracing, hence several of these might have been prevented. Operators should ensure that all wheels are locked and braces as a critical security precaution to prevent the instrument from toppling over.

Other rules include marking the encircling area of the device in an obvious manner to protect passers-by and to guarantee they do not come too close to the operating machine. It is imperative to ensure that there are also 10 feet of clearance among any power lines and the aerial hoist. Operators of this machinery are also highly recommended to always wear the appropriate security harness while up in the air.

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