Aerial Lifts are essential for safely reaching elevated work areas, but they also pose serious hazards if not used properly. Misuse can lead to falls, collisions, tip-overs, and serious injuries. This talk will cover key safety practices and explains the process for situations where standard operation may need to be modified.
General Safety Rules
- Stay inside the lift platform – never climb, lean, or stand on the guardrails or other objects to gain extra height.
- Wear fall protection if required. Boom lifts always require fall protection and some GC’s or clients may require fall protection in scissor lifts.
- Keep the platform clear of tools, materials, and debris that could create trip hazards.
- Check surroundings for overhead hazards, power lines, and obstructions before operating.
When Work Requires More Reach or Leaving the Lift
In rare situations, The work may require:
- Stepping onto a platform within the lift that is not the main work platform.
- Exiting the lift at height to access a work location.
If this situation arises:
- Stop work immediately – do not attempt to improvise or proceed.
- Contact your foreman and the Safety Department to review the task.
- A written site-specific plan will be developed and approved before work can continue.
- The plan must describe the task, hazards, controls, equipment to be used, and fall protection measures.
- You must review and sign the plan before proceeding.
- One Plan = One Site – approved plans do not carry over to other locations.
- Different sites may have different hazards, conditions, and equipment needs meaning the plan may not be the same.
- Review at each site – the Safety Department and involved trades must review and approve the plan on every site that this type of work is needed.
Why This Matters
Leaving the lift or using it in unintended ways greatly increases the risk of:
- fall from heights
- equipment instability or tip-over
- contact with nearby hazards such as beams, scaffolding, or electrical lines
The approval process ensures that everyone knows what the expectations are and ensures the work is done only when necessary, with the right controls in place, and under conditions where risks have been fully evaluated.
Remember: the safest way to work at height is from inside the lift platform, using it exactly as intended. If your task seems to require breaking from that, stop and get a plan – safety is the first priority. “It will only take 5 seconds” could turn into taking someone’s life.