Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like articulated boom lifts, scissor lifts and boom lifts which use an articulated boom or a series of linked, folding supports. These machines enables employees to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In some ways, these equipment have made construction a lot easier and safer, although, the overall safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards that could inadvertently cause severe injury or even death to operators who are unaware.
Falls
Typically, falls can occur when workers are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls can occur when someone on the platform acts wrongly and takes part in an activity such as climbing the guard rails to be able to gain extra height. Also, mishaps could be caused if the operator on the ground causes the machinery to move in an unexpected motion before the employee being correctly secured.
Numerous workers also fall because the base of their equipment is accidentally struck by some other heavy object. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, thus causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly this dangerous action has catastrophic outcome.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are susceptible to tipping over. Tip overs are more common in articulated boom lifts, but can occur in any kind of lift. Since boom lifts can move both vertically and horizontally, they are capable of changing the machinery's overall center of gravity. Therefore, if the lift is over loaded or parked on a slope of some type, extending the boom to full length when it is in the wrong position can cause the machinery to tip over.