How to Ensure Aerial Lift Safety at Your Workplace

If you work in the construction industry, perform utility work, are an arborist, or otherwise work in an industry that uses lifts, it's important that you learn to operate it to the fullest.

The business of aerial lifts will grow at a roughly 9% rate over the course of the next several years, according to experts. This means that we can expect to see the use of these lifts increase across work zones all over.

One of the main keys you need to embrace is understanding how to use these lifts safely in your line of work. Here's what you should know about aerial lift safety and how it can help you and the people that operate in your work zone.

The Importance of Aerial Lift Safety

So, what makes aerial lift safety a matter of such supreme importance? For one, the height alone makes the use of this equipment potentially dangerous. If you use these lifts regularly, it's vital that you mitigate the potential for injuries and fatalities every day at work.

This makes for a safe work zone and can also help you potentially save lives in the process. Managing your lift safety can help you protect your workers, reduce liabilities, and keep your business operating without missing a beat. What's more, you will also be less likely to deal with penalties and infractions for violating safety laws.

By keeping track of these matters, your construction company will run more efficiently and everyone will be taken care of. It helps both your bottom line and the viability of your company as a whole.

Reduce the Likelihood of Falls

The main thing you'll do when you look after aerial lift safety is reducing the likelihood of people falling. More than 30% of construction fatalities are due to falls.

When people fall from an aerial lift, the consequences will almost always be perilous. Take the time to post signage and make sure that operators don't lean out of the lift while it is in use. Keep the lift away from moving machinery to minimize the risk of someone being knocked from the lift.

Further, make sure that the ground conditions are secure so that the lift is situated on a solid foundation. This will prevent accidents and will offer more stability for the entire lift and the person using it.

Make Sure Your Operators Are Expertly Trained

Do your due diligence and make sure that everyone who uses a lift is correctly trained. This way, they will already be up to speed on the best ways to avoid issues. They will operate the machinery correctly and safely, and will also create less damage in your workplace.

Train them expertly in the beginning, and make sure to also offer continued education opportunities. By making sure that everyone on your worksite is trained, you will avoid preventable mistakes and make your company safer as a whole.

Instill strict protocols for competence in your company and test your employees regularly to make certain that they are up to par.

Properly Load the Lift

It's also vital that you load the aerial lift correctly. If you happen to overload it or allow it to be imbalanced, it's far more likely to tip over.

Having an aerial lift tip over can create a tremendous fall or can cause an operator to topple from it. Run through a checklist every time you load the lift and make sure that it is correctly balanced before taking it up. Visually inspect it and have multiple hands on deck to help with the lift.

Handle Inspections for Your Aerial Lifts

One of the main issues with aerial lifts happens when companies neglect to look after the care of the equipment. A simple inspection upfront will help you make sure that you aren't overlooking any glaring problems.

You should have a third-party licensed and insured aerial lift contractor inspect it to make sure that you're not overlooking any potential hindrances. After inspecting the lift, a professional will be able to provide any sort of repair work or maintenance you need. Get your lifts inspected over the course of regular intervals since you will use this equipment daily.

Repair and Maintain the Lift

Make sure that you also have the help of contractors that can address your repair and maintenance work when you need it. Some of the repair and maintenance work that you will need include things like fixing and replacing the tires, changing out the fluids, tightening connections, and testing safety mechanisms.

Keep your aerial lift on a strict repair schedule so that you are better able to prevent breakdowns and problems that contribute to unsafe conditions. Maintain a budget that will help you address any repair work as quickly as possible so that you don't deal with setbacks for too long.

Stay Up-to-Date With OSHA Requirements

Finally, your work zone will stay safe as long as you continuously observe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.

Understanding OSHA requirements will help you properly train your workers, look into safety liabilities, and avoid stiff fines. Check for hazards on your worksite and make sure you are particularly careful to avoid touching powerlines. Monitor the weight limits of your equipment and strictly enforce safety policies and standards.

Handle Your Aerial Lift Safety

These tips are helpful when you're interested in managing your aerial lift safety to the fullest.

Compliance Training Online can help you with all of your training, safety, and compliance needs. Fill out our form and send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (512)410-7335.