Aerial Lifts Safety

Aerial Lifts

Aerial lifts include the following types of vehicle-mounted aerial devices used to elevate personnel to work at above ground elevations:

 Extensible boom platforms / Articulating boom platforms / Scissor lifts

Aerial equipment may be powered or manually operated and are deemed aerial lifts whether or not they are capable of rotating about a substantially vertical axis.  Specific requirements

  1. Lift controls shall be tested each day prior to use to determine that such controls are in safe working condition.
  2. Only authorized persons shall operate an aerial lift.
  3. Belting off to an adjacent pole, structure, or equipment while working from an aerial lift shall not be permitted.
  4. Employees shall always stand firmly on the floor of the basket, and shall not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders or other devices for a work position.
  5. A body harness shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the approved anchor point when working from an aerial lift.
  6. Boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded.
  7. Articulating boom and extensible boom platforms, primarily designed as personnel carriers, shall have both platform (upper) and lower controls. Upper controls shall be in or beside the platform within easy reach of the operator. Lower controls shall provide for overriding the upper controls. Controls shall be plainly marked as to their function. Lower level controls shall not be operated unless permission has been obtained from the employee in the lift, except in case of emergency.