Aerial Lifts

Aerial hoists might be utilized to accomplish several different duties performed in hard to reach aerial spaces. A few of the tasks associated with this type of jack include performing daily upkeep on buildings with lofty ceilings, repairing phone and utility lines, lifting burdensome shelving units, and trimming tree branches. A ladder could also be used for many of the aforementioned jobs, although aerial hoists offer more safety and stability when correctly used.

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

Cherry pickers and bucket trucks are a further variety 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. Lift trucks utilize a pronged arm that rises upwards as the handle is moved. Boom lift trucks have a hydraulic arm that extends outward and lifts the platform. All of these aerial platform lifts have need of special training to operate.

Training programs offered through Occupational Safety & Health Association, known also as OSHA, embrace safety procedures, system operation, upkeep and inspection and device cargo capacities. Successful completion of these education courses earns a special certified license. Only properly licensed people who have OSHA operating licenses should run aerial hoists. The Occupational Safety & Health Organization has established guidelines to uphold safety and prevent injury while using aerial lift trucks. Common sense rules such as not using this machine to give rides and ensuring all tires on aerial lifts are braced in order to hinder machine tipping are mentioned within the guidelines.

Sadly, statistics reveal that more than 20 aerial lift operators die each year when operating and almost ten percent of those are commercial painters. The majority of these incidents were caused by inappropriate tie bracing, hence several of these could have been prevented. Operators should make sure that all wheels are locked and braces as a critical safety precaution to prevent the machine from toppling over.

Marking the surrounding area with observable markers have to be used to protect would-be passers-by in order that they do not come near the lift. Additionally, markings must be set at about 10 feet of clearance amid any power lines and the aerial lift. Hoist operators must at all times be well harnessed to the hoist while up in the air.

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