Aerial
Lift Safety in Construction
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Presented
at the 12th Annual Construction Safety & Health Conference &
Exposition, Rosemont, Illinois, May 2002.
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From 1992-99, there were 26 deaths per year from lifts in construction.
- 18 per year from
boom-supported lifts
- 8 per year from
scissor and other vertical lifts
This
is 3% of all deaths in construction
Causes of Death from Aerial
Lifts in Construction, 1992-99
#Data for scissor lifts do not meet Bureau of Labor Statistics publication
criteria
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data
Deaths from Aerial Lifts
in Construction, by Trade, 1992-99
#Data from scissor lifts does not meet Bureau of Lab or Statistics publication
criteria
* Electricians, electrician apprentices, power installers, and their
supervisors
** Structural metal workers and welders and cutters
*** Includes plumbers, pipe fitters and steam fitters, brick masons
and stone masons , drywall installers
Source : US Bureau of Labor Statistics data
Electrocutions
- almost all due to overhead power lines
Falls
- 2/5 of deaths
involved collapse of boom
- Almost one-third
were due to tipovers.
- 1/4 involved
collapses of bucket
Caught in /between
- Most involved
the worker getting caught between the bucket edge and a roof joist or
beam.
Struck
by/against
- Mostly involved
workers being struck by collapsing materials, girders, etc.
Falls
- 1/5 of deaths
involved ejections, after being struck by object
- Cause of fall
unknown in 3/5 of deaths
- Other causes included
removal of chains, standing on or leaning over railings
Tipovers
- Caused almost
1/3 of scissor lift deaths
- Mostly while elevated
over 15 feet
- 1/4 of tipovers
occurred where lift hit a hole or curb while moving
Electrocutions
- 1/2 involved overhead
power lines
- Get maintenance
history of aerial lift
- Get operator's manual
and maintenance manual (if separate)
- Ensure a detailed
maintenance check is done before rental
- Make sure operator
controls are easily accessible and properly marked
- Training must
be done by a qualified person experienced with the particular lift model
- Training must
include:
- Nature of
electrical, fall, and other hazards involved in operating lift
- Precautions
for dealing with hazards
- Rated load
capacity for the lift (including workers, tools, materials, bucket
liner, etc.)
- Manufacturer
requirements, as outlined in operator manual
- Demonstration
of skill and knowledge in actual operation of the aerial lift
-
A
qualified person .…by extensive knowledge, training, and
experience can….solve….problems related to the subject matter….
- Training of mechanics
should be done by qualified person experienced with lift model
- Maintenance should
include:
- Knowledge
of manufacturer's maintenance requirements
- Frequent inspections
of aerial lift by qualified mechanic
- At least annual
detailed inspections by qualified mechanic
- Insulated aerial
lifts have special electrical test requirements
- De-energize and
lockout/tagout aerial lift before conducting maintenance and repairs
- Do not exceed
manufacturer rated load capacity limits
- Do not travel
to job location with lift in elevated position.
- Set up proper
work zone protection when working near traffic
- Positioning of
lifts
- Do not drive
near drop-offs or holes.
- Do not raise
platform on uneven or soft surfaces.
- Do not drive
onto uneven or soft surfaces when elevated.
- Do not raise
platform on slope or drive onto slope when elevated.
- Do not raise
platform in windy or gusty conditions.
- Avoid excessive
horizontal forces when working on elevated scissor lifts
- OSHA regulates
aerial lifts as scaffolds
- 1926.453 Aerial
Lifts only applies to bucket trucks
- Fall protection
is required (full body harness with lanyard or body belt with 2-foot
lanyard as restraint device)
- OSHA does
not require harnesses and lanyards on other boom lifts and scissor
lifts if there are guardrails
- Fall arrest systems
(harness plus lanyard to stop a fall)
- Can tip over
some boom lifts and scissor lifts due to fall stopping force
- Fall restraint
systems intended to prevent falls are preferred
- e.g. Full
body harness plus lanyard designed for size of lift platform
- Always close entrance
chains or doors
- Stand on floor
of bucket or lift platform
- Do not climb
on or lean over guardrails
This research was
funded as part of a grant to CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)
from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH
(NIOSH grant CCU310982). The research is solely the responsibility of
the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.
CPWR is the research, development, and training arm of the Building and
Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.
This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the
author and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their
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are not responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this
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