Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial man lifts are personnel lifts such as scissor lifts, boom lifts, and articulated booms lifts that use an articulated boom or a series of folding, linked supports. These equipment enables workers to get up high into previously inaccessible areas. In some ways, these equipment have made construction much easier and safer, although, the general safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of dangers which can inadvertently lead to serious injury or even death to unaware drivers.
Falls
Falls from a man lift often occurs when workers fail to or are unable to wear a safety harness or cannot secure the harness to the lift. Falls could take place when someone on the platform acts unsuitably and partakes in an activity such as climbing the guard rails to be able to gain added height. Moreover, mishaps can be caused if the operator on the ground causes the machine to move in an unexpected motion before the worker being properly secured.
Sometimes employees may fall when the lift's base is struck inadvertently by a heavy object. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, hence causing the worker to be suddenly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly this hazardous action has catastrophic outcome.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are susceptible to tipping over. Tip overs are more common in articulated boom lifts, but can occur in any type of lift. As boom lifts can move both vertically and horizontally, they are capable of changing the overall center of gravity of the equipment. Therefore, if the lift is parked on an incline of some sort or over loaded, extending the boom completely when it is in the wrong position could result in a tip-over situation.