Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial manlifts are machinery which utilize either a series of linked, folding supports, like a boom lift or an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift. These industrial kinds of equipment allow employees to access hard-to-reach places. In some ways, these types of machinery have made construction a lot safer and easier, although, the overall safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards that can accidentally result in severe injury or even death to unaware drivers.
Falls
Normally, falls could happen when workers are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls can take place when somebody on the platform acts wrongly and takes part in an activity like for instance climbing the guard rails in order to gain extra height. Furthermore, mishaps can be caused if the operator on the ground causes the equipment to move in an unexpected motion before the worker being correctly secured.
Sometimes employees can fall when the base of the lift is struck inadvertently by a heavy thing. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, hence causing the employee to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly this dangerous action has terrible results.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are prone to tipping over. Tip overs are more common in articulated boom lifts, but can take place in any type of lift. Because boom lifts are able to move both horizontally and vertically, they can change the machinery's overall center of gravity. Therefore, if the lift is parked on an incline of some kind or over loaded, extending the boom completely when it is in the wrong position can lead to a tip-over situation.