Staying Safe With Aerial Lifts

When there’s work to be done 20 feet off the ground, you either need some elevator boots or an aerial lift. Obviously, the lift is going to be easier to find, but these machines come with some risks attached. We here at Adcock Equipment Inc, want to help you stay productive and safe all at once, so we’ve put together some safety tips for using an aerial lift, below. To learn more, or to see the aerial lifts we have for sale, contact our store in Edmonton, Alberta, today!

Trained And Certified

The lift doesn’t have a mind of its own—it needs human beings to operate it, and those people need to know what they’re doing. Before you start operations with an aerial lift, make sure that everyone who’ll be running it is both trained and certified in its use. 

Pre-Use Inspection

Like with any other machine, the aerial lift needs to be in good working order to be safely used. The only way you’ll know it’s in good condition, however, is by checking, and you should examine the equipment before every single use. Starting with the vehicle, check fluid levels and condition, then the battery, tires, horns, lights, and backup alarms. Make sure all systems are operating smoothly and correctly.

Next, the lift itself. Check the hydraulic, air, and electrical systems and make sure they’re functioning properly. Verify that all operating and emergency controls are working, then look for any loose or missing parts. Once that’s all done, test the lift out before anyone or anything is loaded into it.

Safety Features

It can be tempting to force the aerial lift to go just a bit higher or a bit faster, but doing so is dangerous. The safety features that are built into the equipment are all there for a reason, and if you override them, you and those around you are at serious risk. Whatever small boost in convenience or productivity you get from it just isn’t worth the higher danger involved.

Similarly, you should never go over your lift’s reach or weight limits. Going too far past the reach limit could put the entire machine at risk of tipping. Going over weight limits can also risk a tip over, and it can damage the hydraulics as well.

Wire Safety

Finally, remember to stay focused and aware of your surroundings, particularly when there are power lines and wires nearby. Always treat them as energized, whatever your impression of them might be, and keep your location relative to them in mind.

We hope these tips help you and yours stay safe when operating an aerial lift! For more information, or to browse through our selection of aerial lifts, contact us at Adcock Equipment Inc. We proudly serve the people of Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta—let us serve you today!