Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like boom lifts, articulated boom lifts and scissor lifts that use an articulated boom or a series of folding, linked supports. These machines enables workers to get up high into previously inaccessible places. In certain ways, these equipment have made construction a lot safer and easier, however, the overall safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of hazards that could accidentally lead to serious injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Normally, falls can occur when employees are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls can occur when a worker on the platform acts unsuitably and takes part in an activity like for example climbing the guard rails to gain extra height. In addition, mishaps could be caused if the ground-based operator causes the equipment to move in an unexpected motion before the employee being correctly secured.
Many workers also fall because the base of their machinery is inadvertently struck by some other heavy thing. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, therefore causing the worker to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this dangerous action has catastrophic results.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are prone to tipping over. Tip overs are more frequent in articulated boom lifts, but can occur in any kind of lift. As boom lifts can move both horizontally and vertically, they are capable of changing the machine's overall center of gravity. Therefore, if the lift is parked on an incline of some sort or over loaded, completely extending the boom when it is in the wrong position can result in a tip-over situation.