Toolbox Talk: Aerial Lift Safety
Working on aerial lifts presents some very serious dangers. To protect yourself from injury, or even death, consider the following safety practices:
• Never attempt to operate an aerial lift until you have been properly trained.
• Maintain and operate the lift according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Before you use the lift each day, test the controls and inspect it for defects.
• Never override hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical safety devices.
• Stand firmly on the basket floor. Never sit or climb on the rails, and never use planks, boxes, or other items inside the basket to extend your reach.
• Before entering, ensure that all wheels of an elevated lift are on a solid base.
• Always monitor the area of travel for holes, uneven surfaces, unstable soil, or other unsafe conditions before entering the lift.
• Never exceed the equipment’s load limits. Be sure to consider the weight of all workers, tools, and other materials.
• When working near electricity, maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet from the nearest overhead power line.
• Keep objects that conduct electricity at least 10 feet from overhead power lines.
• Do not position yourself or allow a co-worker to be between overhead hazards such as joints and beams and the rails of the basket.
• Do not belt off to an adjacent pole, structure, or equipment while in a lift.
• Use a full-body harness with a lanyard or retractable attached to the boom or basket, so you are not ejected or pulled from the basket. All articulating lifts and some scissor lift manufacturers require a personal fall arrest system.
