Rental
Lift Operator Training Is Vital:
Frequently
operators lack the training to know they are creating safety hazards. An aerial
lift is a potentially dangerous tool when the operator has not read the operator's
manual. Contractors should provide required manuals to operators and maintenance
mechanics. If they can not read or understand the language of manuals, ANSI safety
standards allow others to explain the manuals. OSHA requires a qualified person
to train all users on:
- Any
electrical, fall, and falling-object hazards.
- Procedures
for dealing with hazards.
- How
to operate the lift correctly (including maximum intended load and load capacity).
The user must show he/she knows how to use the lift.
- Manufacturer
requirements (JLG, Lull, Gradall, SkyTrak)
If
the hazards change, the type of aerial lift changes, or a worker is not operating
a lift properly, workers must be retrained. Ask your Lift
Leasing Agent for specific instructions for the operation of special use aerial
lift trucks. OSHA, NIOSH, the National Safety Council and their local affiliates,
vocational-technical schools or other training institutions provide resources
to learn this skill. (Find contact information below.)
In
addition to the lack of training, many lift accidents are caused by misapplication
of the machine, obstacles, and lack or use or incorrect use of outriggers.
Inspect
Before Operating
Rental Lifts:
Identifying
and controlling hazards is very important for job site safety. OSHA regulations
state that employers cannot force employees to use unsafe equipment. Generally
a pre-start inspection is required for all types of aerial lifts at each job site.
Check operating and emergency controls, safety devices (such as, outriggers and
guardrails), personal fall-protection gear, wheels and tires, and other machine
components specified by the manufacturer. Look for possible leaks (air, hydraulic
fluid, and fuel-system) and loose or missing parts.
Contractors
should immediately remove from service aerial platforms that do not operate properly
or are in need of repair. A qualified mechanic must make all repairs using equivalent
replacement parts. Substitution of parts is not wise; they have been known to
cause accidents. De-energize and lockout/tagout aerial lifts before any maintenance
or repairs. Each aerial lift must be inspected as the manufacturer requires -
every 3 months or after 150 hours of use, whichever comes first.
Check
the job site where the lift will be used. Look for a level surface that won't
shift. Check the slope of the ground or floor. A machine may not work properly
on steep slopes that exceed slope limits set by the manufacturer. Look for hazards,
such as, holes, drop-offs, bumps, and debris, and overhead power lines and other
obstructions. Set outriggers, brakes, and wheel chocks - even if you're working
on a level slope.
- Always
close lift platform chains or doors.
- Stand
on the floor of the bucket or lift platform. Do not climb on or lean over guardrails,
or ride on bumpers.
- Do
not exceed manufacturer's load-capacity limits (including the weight of such things
as bucket liners and tools).
- If
working near traffic, put work-zone warnings, like cones and signs.
- Do
not modify an aerial lift without written permission of the manufacturer.
- Be
sure proper personal fall-protection is provided and used.
- On
bucket trucks, OSHA requires a full-body harness and lanyard or a restraining
device to prevent falls. To help keep workers inside guardrails, OSHA allows restraining
devices with a 2 ft. lanyard.
To
prevent electrocutions painters, blasters, and other workers must stay at least
10 feet away from overhead power lines. Insulated buckets protect from electrocution
due to electric current passing through you and the boom to ground. The buckets
do not protect if there's another path to ground - for example, if you touch another
wire.
To prevent
lift tip-overs:
- Check
the manufacturer's instructions.
- Do
not drive with the lift platform elevated (unless the manufacturer assures you
that it is allowed).
- Do
not exceed vertical or horizontal reach limits or the specified load-capacity
of the lift.
- On
an elevated scissor lift, avoid too much pushing or pulling.
More
Lift Safety Tips:
- If
hazards on a job site change, the type of aerial lift changes, or a worker is
not operating a lift properly, workers must be retrained.
- Prevent
unauthorized use by locking a machine, keeping its keys off the job site, or securing
it in an inaccessible area when not working
- Keep
the operator's manual on the machine at the job site not in the office.
- Refer
to the industry consensus standard, ANSI/SIA 92.6, for more information.
What
You Should Know If You Rent Lifts
Many
painting contractors rent
aerial lifts instead of buying them. Therefore, you may not know which model
you will be using, and may be unfamiliar with operator controls and other key
features that differ on each model. Also, you may not know the maintenance history
of the lift. The dealer or company renting out the lift should:
- Properly
inspect and service the lift before rental.
- Provide
operator and maintenance manuals.
- Make
sure the operator controls are easy to reach and properly marked.
