1. Where do I start?
At the blank-slate point in the process of buying an
aerial
lift,
it
is good to start with the fundamentals. First ask:
Where will this aerial lift platform be used?
What will it be used for?
2. What Next?
Think laterally. Are there other applications for which the new aerial
lift platform could be used? Paying an extra few hundred dollars now for a more
flexible lift might save thousands over the years if it allows an occasional
task to be completed more efficiently, or without renting additional equipment.
3. Are There Alternatives to Buying an Aerial Lift?
Two spring to mind:
Rent instead of buy. If there is real doubt about whether the new aerial
lift will pay for itself, consider renting, at least for a period during which a
better cost/benefit assessment can be made.
Use scaffolding, scaffolding towers, or even a ladder. An aerial
lift should
generate a return on investment by making workers more productive. If it doesnt,
then use low-tech solutions. However, factor into any calculations the aerial
lifts inherent safety benefits.
4. Are Aerial Lifts Completely Safe?
No. The first rule of working at height is: Dont. Or rather, it is: Dont
unless absolutely necessary. It is almost always more dangerous to work at
height than on the ground, even when safety precautions are taken. So it
should be avoided, except when unavoidable.
Of course, all too often it really cannot be avoided. Then the use of an aerial
lift platform will greatly reduce the chances of death or injury.
Sadly, however, even aerial lifts do not completely eliminate the risks of
working at height. Indeed, one study, conducted over a seven-year period in
the 1990s, found that deaths from aerial lifts on US construction sites were
then running at 26 a year, which represented three percent of all the industrys
deaths at that time.
5. How Do Safety Considerations Affect the Buying of Aerial Lift Equipment?
Modern aerial lifts come with a whole range of safety features, and options,
some of which are highly sophisticated. For example, a self-propelled andquot;cherry-pickerandquot; intended
for rough terrain use may well have level warning devices, outriggers, pothole
protection, four-wheel drive, and even electronic traction control. The buyer
should be ready to specify whichever safety options are demanded by the nature
of the tasks that the new lift will perform, and the environments in which
it will operate.
Once an aerial lift has been purchased, there are four ways in which safety
can be promoted most effectively:
Ensure that only fully-trained personnel operate the equipment
Rigorously enforce all safety rules and protocols
Keep equipment properly serviced, and maintained
Make sure that any modifications to lifts are fit for purpose
6. What Is the Most Common Mistake Made When Buying an Aerial Lift?
It is difficult to determine the most common mistake, but a serious error would
be when the new aerial
lift is badly matched to its tasks or operating environment.
Be sure to:
Measure doors, corridors, aisles, stacks, and all access ways to make sure
the chosen lift can be easily maneuvered into position.
Choose tires and power source(s) (electricity/gas/diesel/propane/hybrid)
that are appropriate for the environment(s) in which the lift must operate.
Make sure the platform has the space, and the weight capacity to carry all
the people, and equipment that will be needed.
Remember that those lifts that are intended for indoor use cannot be safely
used in less hospitable environments.
Sources
Cdc.gov
Upright.com
Articles.directorym.co.uk
Approvedindex.co.uk
Buyerzone.com
Goldcoasthilift.com
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