Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial manlifts are machinery which use either a series of linked, folding supports, such as a scissor lift or a boom lift or an articulated boom lift. These industrial kinds of machinery enable employees to access hard-to-reach areas. In some ways, these types of machines have made construction much safer and easier, although, the general safety which comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of dangers that could accidentally result in serious injury or even death to operators who are unaware.
Falls
Normally, falls can happen when employees are unable to wear a safety harness or are unable to correctly secure the lift platform. Falls could take place when somebody on the platform acts unsuitably and partakes in an activity like climbing the guard rails in order to gain extra height. In addition, accidents can be caused if the ground-based operator causes the machinery to move in an unexpected motion before the employee being properly secured.
At times employees may fall when the lift's base is struck inadvertently by a heavy thing. During 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 terrible outcome.
Tip-Overs
Sadly, boom lifts are easily susceptible to tipping over. Tip-overs could happen in any type of lift, but are more frequent in articulated boom lifts. Because boom lifts are able to move both vertically and horizontally, they are capable of changing the machinery's overall center of gravity. Thus, if the lift is over loaded or parked on an incline of some sort, completely extending the boom when it is in the wrong position could cause the equipment to tip over.