Aerial Lifts Fall-Protection

OSHA also requires the use of a personal fall protection system when working on any boom-supported elevated work platform. Half of all falls from boom lifts involve being ejected from the bucket after being struck by vehicles, cranes, crane loads, or falling objects; or when a lift is suddenly jerked. Guardrails are the primary fall-protection system, but do not protect a worker in these types of incidents.

There are two main types of personal fall-protection systems:

• Fall arrest system - an assembly of components and subsystems used to arrest, or stop, a person in free fall
• Fall restraint system - any equipment, device, or system that protects a person from experiencing an accidental fall from elevation or that mitigates the effects of such a fall. This technique secures an authorized person to an anchorage using a lanyard short enough to prevent the person's center of gravity from reaching a fall hazard.

A competent person must evaluate the work situation and determine what fall restraint and arrest equipment is appropriate and necessary before work can begin. In all cases, the fall arrest system should ensure that the worker will not come into contact with a lower surface, or experience a free-fall of more than six feet.

To learn more about Aerial Lifts visit our OSHA Aerial Boom Lift Safety Online Training web page.