Aerial Lifts

Aerial hoists can be utilized to accomplish certain distinctive tasks done in hard to reach aerial spaces. A few of the odd jobs associated with this type of jack include performing daily maintenance on buildings with prominent ceilings, repairing telephone and power cables, lifting heavy shelving units, and pruning tree branches. A ladder could also be used for some of the aforementioned projects, although aerial hoists provide more security and strength when properly used.

There are several versions of aerial lifts available on the market depending on what the task needed involves. Painters often use scissor aerial jacks for example, which are categorized as mobile scaffolding, handy in painting trim and reaching the 2nd story and above on buildings. The scissor aerial hoists use criss-cross braces to stretch out and lengthen upwards. There is a table attached to the top of the braces that rises simultaneously as the criss-cross braces raise.

Container trucks and cherry pickers are another kind of aerial hoist. They possess a bucket platform on top of an extended arm. As this arm unfolds, the attached platform rises. Forklifts utilize a pronged arm that rises upwards as the lever is moved. Boom lift trucks have a hydraulic arm that extends outward and lifts the platform. All of these aerial hoists call for special training to operate.

Training programs offered through Occupational Safety & Health Association, acknowledged also as OSHA, deal with safety strategies, machine operation, repair and inspection and device cargo capacities. Successful completion of these training courses earns a special certified license. Only properly certified people who have OSHA operating licenses should drive aerial platform lifts. The Occupational Safety & Health Organization has developed guidelines to maintain safety and prevent injury while utilizing aerial platform lifts. Common sense rules such as not using this piece of equipment to give rides and ensuring all tires on aerial platform lifts are braced so as to prevent machine tipping are observed within the guidelines.

Unfortunately, statistics reveal that greater than 20 aerial hoist operators die each year when operating and just about ten percent of those are commercial painters. The majority of these incidents were caused by inadequate tie bracing, for that reason several of these could have been prevented. Operators should make sure that all wheels are locked and braces as a critical safety precaution to stop the device from toppling over.

Marking the encompassing area with observable markers have to be used to protect would-be passers-by so they do not come near the lift. In addition, markings should be placed at about 10 feet of clearance amid any power cables and the aerial lift. Hoist operators must at all times be appropriately harnessed to the lift when up in the air.

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