Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like scissor lifts, boom lifts, and articulated booms lifts which utilize an articulated boom or a series of linked, folding supports. These machines allows workers to get up high into previously inaccessible places. In some ways, these types of machinery have made construction much safer and easier, although, the general safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards which can accidentally lead to serious injury or even death to operators who are unaware.
Falls
Normally, falls could take place when workers are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could occur when somebody on the platform acts unsuitably and partakes in an activity such as climbing the guard rails to gain added height. What's more, accidents can be caused if the operator on the ground causes the equipment to move in an unexpected motion before the employee being properly secured.
Numerous employees also fall because the base of their machinery is inadvertently struck by some other heavy object. During this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, thus causing the worker to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this hazardous action has terrible outcome.
Tip-Overs
Unfortunately, boom lifts are easily prone to tipping over. Tip-overs can happen in any kind of lift, but are more common in articulated boom lifts. Since boom lifts can move both horizontally and vertically, they can change the equipment's overall center of gravity. Hence, if the lift is over loaded or parked on a slope of some type, totally extending the boom when it is in the wrong position can result in a tip-over situation.