How Do We Prevent Falls From Aerial Lifts? Safety

How Do We Prevent Falls From Aerial Lifts?

Ask the following questions and give time for answers.

What are the hazards? Falls due to work with aerial liftsWhat are the results? Broken bones, internal damage, death

What should we look for? Equipment damaged or used other than intended, untrained operators, lack of fall protection, overloaded equipment, workers standing on guardrails, ladders on the platform, un-level or unstable surface, or improper driving

Actual Incident:

Teterboro, NJ, October 2016: An employee was laying down new metal decking sheets on the roof. The employee was fas- tening the sheets using a screw gun. The employee was using an articulating boom aerial lift as a means of access to the roof. The employee slipped and fell 45 feet to the ground while attempting to get into the lift. Employee was killed.

What to Do While Operating an Aerial Lift

Fall Protection:

  • Ensure that access gates or openings are closed.
  • Stand firmly on the floor of the bucket or lift platform.
  • Do not climb on or lean over guardrails or handrails.
  • Do not use planks, ladders, or other devices as a working position.
  • Use a full-body harness with a lanyard attached to the boom or bucket.
  • Do not belt-off to adjacent structures or poles while in the bucket.

Let’s talk about this site now.

  • Have you received formal training on the safe operation of aerial lifts?
  • How do you sign up for training? Who conducts the training?
  • Demonstrate how to inspect equipment (move group to equipment for demonstration).
  • Is fall protection available for use with aerial lifts? Do you use a fall arrest or fall restaint system? How do you select the proper equipment?