Aerial Manlift Hazards
Aerial manlifts are machinery which use either a series of linked, folding supports, such as an articulated boom lift or a scissor lift or a boom lift. These industrial pieces of machine allow employees to get in touch with hard-to-reach places. In some ways, these machines have made construction a lot easier and safer, however, the general safety that comes with the unparalleled mobility of aerial manlifts has applied a new list of dangers which can inadvertently cause serious injury or even death to drivers who are unaware.
Falls
Normally, falls can take place when workers are unable to correctly secure the lift platform or are unable to wear a safety harness. Falls could happen when someone on the platform acts unsuitably and participates in an activity like climbing the guard rails to gain additional height. Additionally, accidents could be caused if the operator on the ground causes the machinery to move in an unexpected motion prior to the employee being properly secured.
Lots of workers also fall because the base of their machinery is inadvertently struck by some other heavy thing. In this situation, the force of the blow below becomes amplified by the lift's length, thus causing the worker to be abruptly catapulted off of the platform. Obviously this dangerous action has terrible outcome.
Tip-Overs
Boom lifts are prone to tipping over. Tip overs are more common in articulated boom lifts, but can occur in any kind of lift. Since boom lifts can move both vertically and horizontally, they could change the overall center of gravity of the equipment. Thus, if the lift is parked on a slope of some kind or over loaded, extending the boom completely when it is in the wrong position could cause the machine to tip over.