Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts like articulated boom lifts, scissor lifts and boom lifts which use an articulated boom or a series of linked, folding supports. These equipment enables workers to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In some ways, these types of equipment have made construction much safer and easier, however, the overall safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of hazards that can accidentally lead to severe injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Falls from a man lift usually happens when workers cannot secure the harness to the lift or fail to or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could take place when someone on the platform acts inappropriately and takes part in an activity like for example climbing the guard rails to gain added height. As well, accidents can be caused if the operator on the ground causes the machine to move in an unexpected motion before the employee being correctly secured.
Lots of employees also fall because the base of their machinery is accidentally struck by some other heavy thing. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, therefore causing the worker to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly this dangerous action has catastrophic results.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are prone to tipping over. Tip overs are more frequent in articulated boom lifts, but can occur in any kind of lift. Because boom lifts are able to move both vertically and horizontally, they can change the machinery's overall center of gravity. Therefore, if the lift is over loaded or parked on an incline of some type, extending the boom completely when it is in the wrong position could result in a tip-over situation.