Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like boom lifts, articulated boom lifts and scissor lifts that utilize an articulated boom or a series of folding, linked supports. These machines allows employees to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In some ways, these types of machines have made construction a lot safer and easier, although, the overall safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of hazards which can inadvertently lead to severe injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Falls from a man lift normally occurs when workers cannot secure the harness to the lift or fail to or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could occur when a worker on the platform acts wrongly and participates in an activity like for example climbing the guard rails to gain added height. Additionally, accidents can be caused if the ground-based operator causes the machinery to move in an unexpected motion prior to the employee being correctly secured.
At times employees may fall when the base of the lift is struck accidentally by a heavy thing. During this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, therefore causing the worker to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this dangerous action has catastrophic outcome.
Tip-Overs
Sadly, boom lifts are easily prone to tipping over. Tip-overs can occur in any kind of lift, but are more frequent in articulated boom lifts. As boom lifts could move both vertically and horizontally, they could change the machine's overall center of gravity. Thus, if the lift is parked on a slope of some sort or over loaded, completely extending the boom when it is in the wrong position could lead to a tip-over situation.