When you find your business needing a boom lift, choosing which vehicle is best for the job at hand is not the only factor to consider. You also need to consider the safety implications of hiring such a large piece of machinery. While every boom lift operator is trained to use a boom lift safely and take precautions to make sure that the people and surrounding areas aren’t at risk, it’s helpful to know what these precautions entail even if you won’t be operating it yourself.
How To Use A Boom Lift
Sometimes called a cherry picker, an articulating boom lift is used to lift users up to 60 metres in the air. These boom lifts are used for outdoor work, such as solar panel installations or building maintenance. Although they seem to be used mostly for construction purposes, they can be used for almost anything – including window washing and fruit picking. Unlike a telescopic lift, an articulating boom lift is comprised of many sections, which help reach places which are hard to access. These lifts are heavy equipment, so they need to be operated by a professional with the necessary training and licence.
Common Safety Issues
The most common safety issues you could expect when working with an articulating boom lift include electrocution, overturned equipment, and accidental falls. The reasons for these safety issues range from a lack of experience, users not paying attention, and hiring the wrong equipment for the job at hand.
Using An Articulating Boom Lift Safely
All articulating boom lift users must be certified to operate this machinery and know how to use it safely. However, it helps if the people who’ll encounter the lift are also aware of the best practices for operating it. This includes the following:
- Avoid using the equipment if it is damaged or malfunctioning.
- Wear the necessary protective gear at all times – including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and steel-toe boots.
- Test the aerial lift before lifting people on the platform.
- Keep your balance at all times, with your feet planted firmly on the platform.
- Keep a firm hold onto the dedicated holding area inside the cage with both hands when raising or lowering the platform.
- Do not use a boom lift in strong winds or heavy rain.
- Do not use the lift to carry heavy equipment such as ladders, scaffolding or tools which add more weight to the platform.
- Pay attention to your surroundings, overheard hazards (such as power lines), debris or other obstacles on the ground around the boom lift.
When hiring an articulating boom lift, it is always recommended that you also hire a qualified operator to run the machine. To keep the people around the boom lift safe, and to avoid damaging the equipment or surrounding structures, it’s important that they also understand what you should and shouldn’t do when its in operation. Now that you’re better prepared to purchase or hire a boom lift, you can contact Sterling Access for articulating boom lift sale and hire.
