Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts such as boom lifts, articulated boom lifts and scissor lifts that use an articulated boom or a series of linked, folding supports. These equipment allows employees to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In certain ways, these kinds of machinery have made construction a lot safer and easier, although, the general safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of dangers which could accidentally result in serious injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Usually, falls could take place when employees are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could take place when somebody on the platform acts inappropriately and takes part in an activity such as climbing the guard rails to gain additional height. As well, accidents can be caused if the operator on the ground causes the machine to move in an unexpected motion prior to the employee being correctly secured.
Lots of employees also fall because the base of their machine is accidentally struck by some other heavy thing. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, therefore causing the worker to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this hazardous action has terrible outcome.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are susceptible to tipping over. Tip overs are more frequent in articulated boom lifts, but could occur in any kind of lift. Because boom lifts are able to move both vertically and horizontally, they are capable of changing the overall center of gravity of the equipment. Thus, if the lift is over loaded or parked on a slope of some type, completely extending the boom when it is in the wrong position can cause the machinery to tip over.