Aerial Lifts Buyers Guide

Aerial lift safety

Aerial lifts are potentially dangerous machines. But anything that positions a worker 20 feet or higher in the air creates a certain amount of risk. As a result, lift owners and operators are generally careful to follow proper procedures and maintain their equipment, resulting in an accident rate that is fairly low.

The safety specifications ANSI A92.6 (scissor lifts) and ANSI A92.5 (boom lifts) put the burden for safe aerial lift operation on the user. In summary, these regulations state that even if you rent the machine for a day, you're responsible for understanding how to safely operate it.

Knowing that, the most basic safety features of an aerial lift are the operating manual and safety decals. These provide important information about operating procedures, maintenance, and how to use the corresponding safety equipment.

New lifts come with decals and manuals in place, and the operating manual should be stored on the lift itself. If you're buying a used lift, make sure the manual is included and the important decals haven't been painted over.

Additional safety features

Though nothing can prevent user error or save those who operate machinery outside its intended usage, there are a number of highly-valuable safety features that can prevent many of the common accidents associated with aerial lifts, including:

• High-speed cutout. Most lifts can be driven from the bucket so that even with the lift extended, the operator can move the entire rig. However, the high speed cutout limits the overall speed to a slow crawl when the lift is above a certain height.
• Pothole protection. With this feature found mainly on newer lifts, arms come out to stabilize the unit when the lift is raised. If it hits a pothole while moving, the arms prevent the base of the machine from tipping more than an inch or two, preventing a "catapult effect" that can send an operator flying.
• Level warnings. One of the leading causes of accidents related to boom lifts is uneven ground: even the slightest incline has the potential to destabilize the machine by shifting the center of gravity. Level warnings prevent that by sounding an audible alarm and disabling boom operation if they sense the lift isn't level.
• Guardrails and restraints. Another essential safety feature, guardrails and personal restraints prevent operators from falling. It’s worth noting that these are mandatory and standard on all types of lifts.
• Static straps. If you choose a lift with non-marking tires, it should also have static straps. These straps ground the lift, preventing potentially dangerous static build-up from shocking your workers.
• Manual descent valve. A manual descent valve is another important safety feature. If your lift loses power while a worker is up in the air, someone on the ground can use this valve to safely lower the platform.
• LCD displays. Providing information through diagnostics and sensors, LCD displays improve safety and maintenance operations through up-to-the-minute feedback on operational status.