Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like boom lifts, articulated boom lifts and scissor lifts which use an articulated boom or a series of linked, folding supports. These equipment allows employees to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In some ways, these types of machinery have made construction a lot easier and safer, although, the general safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of dangers that can accidentally result in serious injury or even death to unaware drivers.
Falls
Normally, falls can take place when employees are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls can happen when someone on the platform acts wrongly and participates in an activity like for example climbing the guard rails to gain added height. As well, accidents could be caused if the operator on the ground causes the equipment to move in an unexpected motion prior to the employee being correctly secured.
Numerous employees also fall because the base of their machine is inadvertently struck by some other heavy object. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, therefore causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly this dangerous action has catastrophic outcome.
Tip-Overs
Sadly, boom lifts are easily susceptible to tipping over. Tip-overs can take place in any type of lift, but are more frequent in articulated boom lifts. Because boom lifts can move both vertically and horizontally, they could change the overall center of gravity of the equipment. Hence, if the lift is over loaded or parked on a slope of some kind, extending the boom completely when it is in the wrong position can cause the equipment to tip over.