BOOM LIFTS

HAZARDS AND SAFE OPERATION

OSHA REQUIREMENTS 1926.21(b)(2) The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury. What are the hazards?

FALL PROTECTION

GUARDRAIL

Fall protection on a boom lift is the guardrail. OSHA also states that all workers shall 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.

1926.453(b)(2)(iv)

To meet the requirements of OSHA standards, a fall restraint system can be used.

• OSHA says:

• The principle function of the protection device is to restrain the bucket occupant to the extent that he/she cannot leave the bucket, either on his/her own volition or due to an impact to the lift that might otherwise tend to eject him/her.

• I can’t emphasize enough that we are dealing with restraint here…

• OSHA Compliance will cite the use of a fall protection lanyard and shock absorber…if the length of the lanyard assembly is such that the employee could leave the bucket with the devices in use and in place.

APPROPRIATE PROTECTION

• Interpretation Letter #20070823-7896 • Question 1: Section 1926.453(b)(2)(v) requires employees to tie off

to the boom or the basket when working from an aerial lift. In addition, 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) provides that a personal fall arrest system shall be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than six feet, nor contact any lower level. The manufacturer of a particular shock absorbing lanyard sets a minimum anchor point elevation for the lanyard of 18-1/2’ to prevent contact with a lower level in the event of a fall. My concern centers around the fact that, when raising an employee from a work surface, or upon returning an employee to a work surface, the employee at times will be at elevations that are less than 18-1/2’.

• DOES THIS PRECLUDE ITS USE AS A FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM IN AN AERIAL LIFT?

FALL ARREST OR RESTRAINT?

Interpretation Letter #20070823-7896

Answer 1: … The lanyard you describe would not meet that criterion when the aerial lift’s work platform is at heights less than 18-1/2’. Even if the working level of the aerial lift will ultimately be higher than 18-1/2’, 1926.453(b)(2)(v) requires fall protection for employees in aerial lifts at lesser heights as well. Since the fall protection system you describe would not meet the requirements of 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) under these conditions, it would be prohibited.

PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN LANYARDS

PREOPERATIONAL INSPECTION

EACH DAY, prior to operating an aerial lift, a preoperational inspection shall be conducted. Check for: Leaks Broken or unattached wires Gouges in the tires Missing parts Alterations Any kind of damage If you find any of the above,

DO NOT OPERATE THE LIFT! Report it to your supervisor.

Look under both hoods. Check for broken wiring,

leaks, and damage to any component.

Ensure the hydraulic fluid registers in the sight glass.

CHECK THE OIL. Walk completely around the

Boom lift and check for damage to any component, leaks, broken or unattached wires, gouges in the tires, missing parts and alterations.

NEVER ACCEPT DEFICIENT CONDITIONS

FUEL

HYDRAULIC FLUID

OIL

UNDER THE HOODS

CONTROLS

PREOPERATIONAL INSPECTION

Check the fuel, motor oil and hydraulic oil levels. Test ground controls.

BIG RED BUTTON Emergency stop

Used to stop the function of the machine in an emergency.

Always push this in when you are finished using the machine.

BASKET CONTROLS

TEST BASKET CONTROLS FOR FUNCTIONALITY

MASTER CONTROL With the exception of starting the machine, controls will not function unless the

master control is engaged.

STARTING AND DRIVING

OVERRIDE SWITCH

If your engine dies and you are unable to restart it

you have options:

*Use the override switch to start the lift using the

battery

*Alert the ground crew to operate the ground

controls The override switch must be engaged if your basket is in a certain position on the chassis (color-coded arrows won’t line up). The override switch must be used to operate the drive function in this situation.

COLOR CODED ARROWS/DRIVE ORIENTATION OVERRIDE

DRIVE ORIENTATION OVERRIDE SWITCH

AXLE LOCK If the counterweight is

NOT over the drive wheels, the axle will lock.

If you move the chassis over an uneven surface the

drive wheels may not touch the ground.

ANCHOR POINTS Anchor points are located on either side

of the control box. An additional anchor point is located near the access

gate.

LOAD LIMITS Never exceed the load limit of the machine

MOVING THE CHASSIS Prior to moving the chassis of the boom lift when the boom is raised and extended:

Retract and lower the boom before moving the chassis

SOME REASONS WHY

PINCH POINTS

Keep hands and body parts inside the basket and never place any part of your body in a pinch point.

Maintain situational awareness when nearing structures or objects.

TIP OVER

Never override the safety features of the boom lift. If you hear an alarm, a flashing light will tell you what the hazard is.

Exceeding the weight limit can cause the lift to tip over.

Your lift must be set up in a relatively level manner. Swinging the basket or extending or raising the boom when the chassis is not on level ground could cause the lift to tip over!

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Maintain required distances from electrical power lines and other electrical hazards.

Machine must be grounded by a qualified electrician when working near overhead power lines.

OVERHEAD HAZARDS Always face the direction of travel and beware of overhead beams, etc. Never place

any part of your lift under an overhead hazard. This includes crane booms and suspended loads and other boom lifts or equipment.

TRAVEL PATH HAZARDS

Walk down the travel path prior to operating the lift, especially where soft spots, holes, ruts, etc. may exist.

Other work groups and their equipment, site equipment and materials, and traffic areas may impact conditions.

FIRES

What would you do if you were extended in the air and a fire in the basket control panel occurred?

Having a currently inspected and operational fire extinguisher in the basket could save your life.

WHAT FOLLOWS

FINAL WRITTEN TEST

PRACTICAL TRAINING

PRACTICAL TRAINING

THIS WILL CONSIST OF ACTUAL OPERATION OF A BOOM LIFT. YOUR INSTRUCTOR WILL BE IN THE BASKET WITH YOU. YOU

WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE A BOOM LIFT ALONE UNTIL YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TRAINING

WITH AN AUTHORIZED INSTRUCTOR.