Boom lifts are crucial for the efficient execution and completion of numerous construction projects. However, the size, scale, and construction of this kind of equipment make them a significant risk and threat to severe damage if proper safety procedures are not followed. When using boom lifts, it’s crucial to keep these safety precautions in mind and put them into practice because they can help prevent injuries, accidents, property damage, and liability issues.
1. Keep the base and circumference clear.
When using a boom lift, ensure all personnel is kept from the base and the boom lift’s whole perimeter. Tools can fall from the platform and seriously damage anyone who might be standing below because the circle of the lift is frequently significant. The risk of anyone being struck down by falling debris is reduced by keeping the entire area free.
Boom lifts can also tip over, albeit it happens very infrequently. If the entire structure goes over, it will be less likely that anyone will be hurt if the area beneath and surrounding the boom lift is left clear.
2. Employ qualified lift operators
You and your other employees can stay safe using the boom lift by using personnel who have received the necessary training to operate them and who regularly maintain the required safety certificates and expertise. Potential problems can be fixed before accidents occur on the job by testing prospective recruits with practical projects that show their operational understanding of the lift.
3. Put your harness on.
Wearing a harness and making sure the lanyard is tightly fastened to the bucket are two straightforward but essential safety precautions. Even a little jolt from another piece of machinery or object might knock an operator off balance and keep them at risk of falling, even if it might seem implausible to leave the platform. A person could get significant injuries even from a strong wind gust that knocks them off the platform or below.
4. Don’t exceed the weight restriction.
Each boom lift has a specific weight limit. It’s crucial to be aware of and respect these limitations. If this limit is exceeded even slightly, the lift can become top-heavy and fall over. Before using a lift, it is usually a good idea to weigh the operator, all tools, and materials on the platform to ensure the total weight is under the lift’s stated weight limit. Additionally, it’s crucial to remember that carrying extensive materials with a boom lift is not advised.
5. Avoid perching or sitting on cliff edges.
On a boom lift platform, it’s simple to be tempted to reach something by climbing up the edge rather than moving the boom lift as a whole. But this is more hazardous than most people think. One considerably increases their risk of going off the platform by standing or sitting on the edge, which might cause catastrophic injury. If there is something inaccessible, tell the boom lift operator so you can move to a secure spot on the platform where you can quickly get to what is required.
6. Avoid windy weather
The wind can be a significant safety hazard when a boom lift is extended to very high levels. A boom lift can be entirely toppled by a strong enough wind. One should refrain from operating boom lifts in highly windy or unfavorable weather to reduce the possibility of a boom lift tipping over. Each lift has a maximum amount of wind it can withstand; reading the user manual will assist an operator in comprehending the particular limitations of the lift they are operating and identifying techniques for using the lift in challenging weather.
7. Work on level terrain.
Boom lifts are particularly prone to toppling over due to the height to which they can stretch. The operator and nearby personnel will be kept safe if the boom lift is operated on firm ground and an even surface. One technique that can aid in stabilizing the boom lift base is appropriately using the brakes on the boom lift.
8. Operate the lift properly.
An operator can better handle the boom lift by carefully reading the manufacturer’s instructions and learning when it’s safe to move the lift when it is extended. However, it’s generally advisable to avoid moving the lift this way as a best practice. It is dangerous to drive a lift while extended; you should only do this if required and if the manufacturer’s instructions permit it. Otherwise, the boom lift should be lowered, moved, and extended.
While using boom lifts can be challenging and dangerous, these safety precautions will help reduce the likelihood of mishaps and injuries while working.
