Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like scissor lifts, boom lifts, and articulated booms lifts which use an articulated boom or a series of folding, linked supports. These machines allows employees to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In certain ways, these types of machinery have made construction much easier and safer, although, the overall safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards which can accidentally cause severe injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Usually, falls could occur when employees are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could occur when a worker on the platform acts inappropriately and partakes in an activity like for instance climbing the guard rails to be able to gain extra height. Also, accidents could be caused if the ground-based operator causes the machinery to move in an unexpected motion prior to the worker being correctly secured.
At times workers could fall when the lift's base is struck accidentally by a heavy object. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, hence causing the employee to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly this hazardous action has catastrophic outcome.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are susceptible to tipping over. Tip overs are more common in articulated boom lifts, but could happen in any kind of lift. Because boom lifts can move both horizontally and vertically, they are capable of changing the overall center of gravity of the equipment. Therefore, if the lift is parked on a slope of some sort or over loaded, extending the boom to full length when it is in the wrong position can cause the equipment to tip over.