Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial manlifts are machines that utilize either a series of folding, linked supports, like an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift or a boom lift. These industrial types of equipment allow workers to get in touch with hard-to-reach places. In certain ways, these kinds of machinery have made construction a lot easier and safer, however, the overall safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has implemented a new list of hazards that could accidentally result in severe injury or even death to unaware drivers.
Falls
Usually, falls could happen when employees are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls can happen when somebody on the platform acts unsuitably and partakes in an activity like climbing the guard rails to gain extra height. Furthermore, mishaps can be caused if the ground-based operator causes the equipment 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. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, therefore causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this dangerous action has catastrophic results.
Tip-Overs
Unfortunately, boom lifts are easily susceptible to tipping over. Tip-overs could happen in any type of lift, but are more common in articulated boom lifts. Since boom lifts could move both horizontally and vertically, they can change the machinery's overall center of gravity. Hence, if the lift is parked on a slope of some kind or over loaded, totally extending the boom when it is in the wrong position can cause the machinery to tip over.