Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial manlifts are machines that utilize either a series of linked, folding supports, such as a boom lift or an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift. These industrial pieces of machine allow employees to get in touch with hard-to-reach areas. In some ways, these kinds of equipment have made construction much easier and safer, however, the general safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of dangers that can accidentally result in severe injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Falls from a man lift usually occurs when employees cannot secure the harness to the lift or fail to or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could occur when somebody on the platform acts inappropriately and participates in an activity like climbing the guard rails to gain additional height. Also, mishaps can be caused if the ground-based operator causes the machinery to move in an unexpected motion before the worker being properly secured.
Numerous workers also fall because the base of their machine is accidentally struck by some other heavy object. During this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, hence causing the employee to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this dangerous action has terrible results.
Tip-Overs
Unfortunately, boom lifts are easily susceptible to tipping over. Tip-overs can happen in any type of lift, but are more common in articulated boom lifts. Because boom lifts are able to move both vertically and horizontally, they can change the machine's overall center of gravity. Thus, if the lift is over loaded or parked on a slope of some sort, extending the boom completely when it is in the wrong position can cause the machine to tip over.