Aerial lift (also known as aerial work platforms or AWPs) are equipment that support workers and their tools while allowing them to access hard-to-reach spaces. Whether it’s an electrician hanging lights in a church, a telecommunications company making repairs to a power line or a painter washing windows or painting the exterior of a building, this versatile equipment has many use cases and is a crucial tool for businesses to maintain their facilities. Go here
However, as with any heavy equipment, aerial lifts can present hazards and require proper training and inspection before they’re used. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets workplace standards and aerial lift regulations to reduce accidents, injuries and business costs.
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The main risk associated with aerial lifts is falls, which can occur due to lack of fall protection or tip-overs. Other risks include contact with energized wires, structural failures and being entangled in or caught between objects.
To reduce these hazards, companies should train all employees on the proper use of lifts and inspect the equipment before and after each use. The inspection should look at a variety of factors, including the vehicle’s stability, load capacity, guardrails’ integrity and functionality of emergency stops.
Aerial lifts can also be a great help in warehouses, where they’re commonly used to stack and retrieve inventory from high shelves. Narrow articulating boom lifts can maneuver in tight spaces, while electric scissor lifts can raise and lower workers as they stack or retrieve items.