Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial manlifts are machines that use either a series of folding, linked supports, such as a boom lift or an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift. These industrial kinds of machine enable workers to get in touch with hard-to-reach places. In certain ways, these kinds of machines have made construction a lot safer and easier, however, the general safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards that can inadvertently result in serious injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Falls from a man lift often occurs when employees fail to or are unable to wear a safety harness or cannot secure the harness to the lift. Falls can occur when somebody on the platform acts inappropriately and participates in an activity such as climbing the guard rails to gain additional height. Also, mishaps could be caused if the ground-based operator causes the machine to move in an unexpected motion prior to the employee being correctly secured.
At times workers could fall when the lift's base is struck inadvertently by a heavy object. During this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, thus causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this hazardous action has catastrophic results.
Tip-Overs
Sadly, boom lifts are easily prone to tipping over. Tip-overs could happen in any kind of lift, but are more common in articulated boom lifts. Because boom lifts can move both vertically and horizontally, they are capable of changing the overall center of gravity of the equipment. Thus, if the lift is parked on an incline of some kind or over loaded, completely extending the boom when it is in the wrong position could cause the machinery to tip over.