Aerial Manlift Dangers
Aerial manlifts are machines that utilize either a series of folding, linked supports, such as an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift or a boom lift. These industrial kinds of machinery enable workers to access hard-to-reach places. In some ways, these equipment have made construction much easier and safer, although, the overall safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of hazards which can accidentally lead to serious injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Falls from a man lift normally occurs when employees cannot secure the harness to the lift or fail to or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could happen when a worker on the platform acts wrongly and partakes in an activity like for example climbing the guard rails to gain added height. Also, accidents can be caused if the operator on the ground causes the machine to move in an unexpected motion prior to the employee being properly secured.
At times workers may fall when the base of the lift is struck accidentally by a heavy object. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the length of the lift, thus causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Clearly 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 kind of lift. Since boom lifts can move both vertically and horizontally, they can change the overall center of gravity of the machine. Therefore, if the lift is parked on an incline of some type or over loaded, extending the boom to full length when it is in the wrong position can result in a tip-over situation.