Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial manlifts are equipments which utilize either a series of linked, folding supports, such as a boom lift or an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift. These industrial kinds of equipment allow employees to access hard-to-reach areas. In some ways, these types of machines have made construction a lot easier and safer, however, the overall safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards which can accidentally cause serious injury or even death to unaware drivers.
Falls
Typically, falls can 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 like climbing the guard rails to gain additional height. What's more, mishaps can be caused if the ground-based operator causes the machine to move in an unexpected motion before the worker being properly secured.
Many workers also fall because the base of their machinery is accidentally struck by some other heavy thing. During this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, hence causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this hazardous action has terrible outcome.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are prone to tipping over. Tip overs are more frequent in articulated boom lifts, but could happen in any type of lift. Because boom lifts are able to move both horizontally and vertically, they are capable of changing the overall center of gravity of the machine. Thus, if the lift is parked on an incline of some kind or over loaded, totally extending the boom when it is in the wrong position could result in a tip-over situation.