Safety Services Company
48 workers have died while working on aerial lifts during 2011-2021 per the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). 19 of the deaths were from falling out of the lift and 13 were from electrocutions. Other types include being crushed, the lift collapsing/tipping over and a mixture of others. The main reasons for the deaths were not wearing fall protection, unsafe operation of the aerial lift, or not following OSHA rules. Other causes include operating the aerial lift in bad weather, failing to inspect, poor maintenance and not making repairs.
Boom lifts are a type of aerial lift that allow the worker to move up and down, and some can move side to side as well as. Some lifts are called cherry pickers, man lifts, or mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP). They can be articulating boom lifts or straight telescopic aerial lifts among other types.
Boom Lifts Safety Kit
Level: Intermediate
Languages: English, Spanish
Digital: $550.00
Digital and Hard Copy: $675.00
Description: DIY TRAINING KIT: COURSE A – This course is designed to provide basic knowledge and awareness around boom lifts. It’s meant to give an overview for potential trainers who can then use their knowledge of specific manufacturer devices and live practical sessions to train others working in or around boom lifts.
1 Year Safety Meeting Subscription
Digital and Hard Copies: $380.00
Description: SUBSCRIPTION – Get weekly safety meeting topics based on your selections delivered throughout the year. This can included boom lift-specific topics or meetings related to the specific upcoming job, such as working near overhead powerlines.
SafetyConnect Online Subscription
CONTACT FOR PRICING
Description: SUBSCRIPTION – Get access to over 300 courses, including boom lift courses in English and Spanish. SafetyConnect is a complete learning management system that allows users to take digital courses, receive certicates, record training dates, upload documentation, create custom learning plans, and much more. The platform even uses your logo to keep with your brand.
OSHA sets policies and rules for aerial lifts. Accidents and deaths can be prevented by following these rules.
OSHA states that only authorized and trained people can operate an aerial lift. Many accidents can be avoided through proper training.
In addition to OSHA rules, the following American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines apply to mobile elevating work platforms – ANSI/SIA A92.2-1969, ANSI/SIA A92.3, ANSI/SIA A92.5, ANSI/SIA A92.6.
ANSI classifies mobile elevating work platforms by group and type – Group A or B and Type 1, 2 or 3.
Group A – Move up and down within the tipping lines, invisible lines drawn around the chassis that indicate where a MEWP platform extends.
Group B – Are all other MEWP. They move up and down and side to side beyond the tipping lines. Boom lifts are in Group B.
OSHA requires fall protection to be worn and attached to the boom or basket when working from a lift. This is due to the increased risk of a worker being ejected from a lift. There are different OSHA requirements for fall protection in aerial lifts. It’s important to know the correct fall protection needed.
Personal fall arrest systems protect an employee who experiences a fall from a lift. The system limits how much force is put on the employee and keeps them from hitting the ground below.
Fall restraint systems prevent the employee from having a fall at all. The restraint device allows the worker to only move a certain length. The distance is only long enough so that the person can work from inside the basket. However, it’s short enough so the worker cannot climb up or out of the basket.
Most aerial lift deaths are from falls that could have been prevented by wearing the proper fall protection equipment. Overreaching, sudden stops, uneven ground and bad weather can cause the lift to tip or overturn causing serious accidents.
Each mobile elevating work platform has a maximum load capacity. A decal should be on the lift showing the maximum weight allowed and should never be exceeded. Too much weight on the lift can make it collapse. Injury and death to lift operators and people below can happen.
Touching overhead power lines can electrocute the worker. The lift worker must use caution and keep a safe clearance.
Not completing needed repairs or not performing routine maintenance may lead to an unsafe aerial lift. Modifications or changes should not be made to the equipment without written manufacturer approval.
Many accidents can be avoided through proper training.
Online Boom Lifts training provides a great introduction or deep dive into the topic of boom lifts. This is perfect to refresh, supplement, or reinforce internal policy or onsite training. In addition, our online training platform, SafetyConnect is a feature-rich content and learning management system to support all of your safety needs: from storage of important boomlLifts safety and training records to conducting remote demonstrations of boom lifts equipment specific to your workplace.
If you have a competent and qualified boom lifts trainer of your own, Safety Services Company offers boom lifts training kits. These kits include the following:
A complete boom lifts policy should be specific to your business and work sites. Safety Services Company offers manuals customized for your business.
When you need help setting up a complete boom lifts safety program, Safety Services Company can send out a safety professional to evaluate your work environment and offer consultation.
Working with ISNetworld®, Avetta®, Veriforce®, or any of 30+ prequalification platforms to land a contract with a safety-minded organization? Safety Services Company offers safety prequalification services to help companies meet prequalification platform requirements for boom lifts and other such safety topics. These services are not limited to but include:
To reinforce policy, employees should meet regularly to discuss safety topics. This safety meeting is sometimes called a toolbox or a tailgate meeting. Safety Services Company can send industry-guided boom lifts safety meetings in weekly or biweekly installments. We maintain over 1,000 topics in English or Spanish, including those specific to working in and around boom lifts.
This covers the design, construction safe operation and procedures for powered platforms, manlifts, vehicle-mounted work platforms and rotating work platforms.
This covers use of insulated aerial lifts and fall protection requirements when working with electric power generation, transmission, and distribution.
This covers the design, construction safe operation and procedures for aerial lifts.
This covers the employers responsibility to establish and supervise programs for the education and training of employers and workers in the recognition, avoidance and prevention of unsafe conditions.
This covers the employers responsibility to provide and install all fall protection systems that are required for workers.
This California regulation covers fall protection guidelines to include guardrails, platform configurations and controls of the aerial lift.
This California regulation covers safe operating procedures and training requirements for aerial lift devices.
Boom lifts usually extend much higher than scissor lifts:
I’m very pleased with Safety Services Company. The services that they provide gives our company piece-of-mind that we are meeting safety criteria set forth by the industry and individual clients.
Schelley B.