Aerial Lift Safety and Inspection Requirements
Only qualified employees shall be permitted to operate an aerial lift. Fall protection must be worn when operating an aerial lift. Fall protection consists of: a body belt or full body harness attached to an anchor point on the aerial lift. All aerial devices shall be operated, inspected and maintained in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s manuals. Instructions for the unit being operated, and these manuals must be kept on the Aerial Device.
Aerial Devices
An aerial lift is any work platform attached to an articulating boom.
• Aerial devices shall be provided with an approved point of attachment on which to secure a full-body harness with an energy-absorbing lanyard or body belt and lanyard, which shall be worn when aloft.
• Do not operate aerial lift without a bucket liner.
• The safety features built into aerial lift are additional protection only. They are not meant to allow operators to ignore safety rules and safe work practices.
• Never touch any conductor, or any conductive material in contact with a conductor, except with a non-conductive tool.
• The booms shall not be brought in contact with any wires, cables or conductors.
• Booms and lifts shall maintain minimum work distances.
• Wheel chocks shall be set before using an aerial device.
• Aerial devices shall not be moved with an arborist on an elevated platform.
• Holes shall not be drilled in buckets or liners.
• All underground hazards shall be located prior to operating aerial lift devices off-road. These hazards could include: natural gas tanks, underground oil tanks, and septic systems.
• One-person buckets shall not have more than one person in them during operations.
• Aerial devices or aerial ladders shall not be used as cranes or hoists, to lift or lower materials or tree parts.
• Combined loads shall not exceed rated lift capacities. Load ratings shall be conspicuously and permanently posted on aerial devices.
• An aerial lift shall not be operated until the outriggers have been lowered. When outriggers are lowered, the operator shall ensure adequate clearance exists and give warning.
• Outrigger pads shall be used when placing the outriggers on soft ground or slippery surfaces.
• Do not work on the truck, screen or dump when equipment is in operation.
• Do not come in contact with any part of the equipment, if the boom is in contact with conductors or adjacent to the conductors.
• When operating aerial devices, the operator shall look in the direction the bucket is traveling. They shall be aware of the location of the booms, in relation to all other objects and hazards. Keep tools in the proper place or keep a secure grip on them while maneuvering.
• If booms or buckets are operated over a roadway, clearance from vehicles must be provided.
• Disconnect or divert power from hydraulic tools when they’re not in use.
• Disconnect all tools and secure them before moving the vehicle.
• Clean brush, dirt, and debris from the cage, pedestal, turntable and dump body before moving the vehicle.
• Keep the non-conductive portions of the booms clean and dry, inside and outside.
• Make sure that the booms are cradled, and the outriggers are up before moving the vehicle.
• Do not ride in the bucket while the vehicle is moving.
• Chock the wheels, set the emergency brake, remove the keys and lock the doors, whenever the aerial lift is left unattended.
• All tool bins and doors must be locked and barred to prevent theft.
• Aerial lifts are for tree work only. Do not use the boom of an aerial lift as a crane.
• Insulated aerial lifts do NOT protect workers from other electrical paths to ground.
Required Inspection Procedures
Before operating, the aerial lift shall be inspected thoroughly. The inspection shall follow the manufacturer's guidelines and include all safety related components.
• All manufacturer safety decals shall be legible.
• Operate all controls from the lower control bank before entering the bucket.
• Lubricate moving parts according to manufacturer's specifications.
• All aerial lifts must be drift tested monthly. Drift test instructions can be found in the manufacturer's manual.
• Many aerial lifts have an emergency stop knob or lever at the upper controls. Make sure that this is operating properly.
Only qualified employees shall be permitted to operate an aerial lift. Fall protection must be worn when operating an aerial lift. Fall protection consists of: a body belt or full body harness attached to an anchor point on the aerial lift. All aerial devices shall be operated, inspected and maintained in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s manuals. Instructions for the unit being operated, and these manuals must be kept on the Aerial Device.
Aerial Devices
An aerial lift is any work platform attached to an articulating boom.
• Aerial devices shall be provided with an approved point of attachment on which to secure a full-body harness with an energy-absorbing lanyard or body belt and lanyard, which shall be worn when aloft.
• Do not operate aerial lift without a bucket liner.
• The safety features built into aerial lift are additional protection only. They are not meant to allow operators to ignore safety rules and safe work practices.
• Never touch any conductor, or any conductive material in contact with a conductor, except with a non-conductive tool.
• The booms shall not be brought in contact with any wires, cables or conductors.
• Booms and lifts shall maintain minimum work distances.
• Wheel chocks shall be set before using an aerial device.
• Aerial devices shall not be moved with an arborist on an elevated platform.
• Holes shall not be drilled in buckets or liners.
• All underground hazards shall be located prior to operating aerial lift devices off-road. These hazards could include: natural gas tanks, underground oil tanks, and septic systems.
• One-person buckets shall not have more than one person in them during operations.
• Aerial devices or aerial ladders shall not be used as cranes or hoists, to lift or lower materials or tree parts.
• Combined loads shall not exceed rated lift capacities. Load ratings shall be conspicuously and permanently posted on aerial devices.
• An aerial lift shall not be operated until the outriggers have been lowered. When outriggers are lowered, the operator shall ensure adequate clearance exists and give warning.
• Outrigger pads shall be used when placing the outriggers on soft ground or slippery surfaces.
• Do not work on the truck, screen or dump when equipment is in operation.
• Do not come in contact with any part of the equipment, if the boom is in contact with conductors or adjacent to the conductors.
• When operating aerial devices, the operator shall look in the direction the bucket is traveling. They shall be aware of the location of the booms, in relation to all other objects and hazards. Keep tools in the proper place or keep a secure grip on them while maneuvering.
• If booms or buckets are operated over a roadway, clearance from vehicles must be provided.
• Disconnect or divert power from hydraulic tools when they’re not in use.
• Disconnect all tools and secure them before moving the vehicle.
• Clean brush, dirt, and debris from the cage, pedestal, turntable and dump body before moving the vehicle.
• Keep the non-conductive portions of the booms clean and dry, inside and outside.
• Make sure that the booms are cradled, and the outriggers are up before moving the vehicle.
• Do not ride in the bucket while the vehicle is moving.
• Chock the wheels, set the emergency brake, remove the keys and lock the doors, whenever the aerial lift is left unattended.
• All tool bins and doors must be locked and barred to prevent theft.
• Aerial lifts are for tree work only. Do not use the boom of an aerial lift as a crane.
• Insulated aerial lifts do NOT protect workers from other electrical paths to ground.
Required Inspection Procedures
Before operating, the aerial lift shall be inspected thoroughly. The inspection shall follow the manufacturer's guidelines and include all safety related components.
• All manufacturer safety decals shall be legible.
• Operate all controls from the lower control bank before entering the bucket.
• Lubricate moving parts according to manufacturer's specifications.
• All aerial lifts must be drift tested monthly. Drift test instructions can be found in the manufacturer's manual.
• Many aerial lifts have an emergency stop knob or lever at the upper controls. Make sure that this is operating properly.
