For more than 30 years, Arbor Age magazine has been covering new and innovative products, services, technology and research vital to tree care companies, municipal arborists and utility right-of-way maintenance companies
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TRAINING & EDUCA TRAINING & EDUCATION By Michael “House” Tain T he topic of aerial lifts and their safe use has changed a great deal in the last couple of decades. Previously, the only aerial lift that was available, though not always that affordable, to tree care companies was a bucket truck. The biggest questions that would’ve had to have been answered by a prospective buyer — beyond what brand of lift to get — were where they wanted the lift mounted on the truck, and whether or not they wanted a chip box/forestry package. Aerial lifts are now available in a wide variety of configurations, reach, capacity, and, most joyous of all, prices. Lifts are out there that are tow-behind, self-propelled or the traditional truck unit, ranging in height from 25 feet to more than tree folk should be thinking about when sober; and feature power options that include electric- ity, diesel, and gas. All this variety gives tree care personnel a lot more options and flexibility when using or needing an aerial lift, but it also means a lot more opportunities to use them unsafely or improperly.A fairly common school of thought in the tree care industry is that anyone can run an aerial lift. Although that may be true depending on what the definition of “run” is, a little knowledge and training will help new operators run this typically expensive piece of equipment safely and well. Lift care and maintenance Different models and makes of aerial lifts will have different daily, weekly and monthly maintenance requirements. But a basic func- tion and safety check should always be carried out before the operator takes the lift up. This function system check will probably also vary with make and model. But the crew should, at a minimum, check the basic structure for the security of nuts and bolts; cracks, pits, or holes in fiberglass or metal; visible hose wear and integrity; and run the lift through its basic operations from the lower controls. Regular washing and cleaning of the lift, with the 14 Arbor Age / July/August 2011 appropriate products, is also not a bad idea, both for maintenance and safety. The build-up of grease and scum on the boom and bucket can provide a conductor for electricity, negating the safety of the operator when working near utilities. Lift use There have always been, and likely always will be, disagreements between climbers and lift operators as to which skill and equipment is better or more useful.The reality is that the well-rounded tree care professional should have skills in, and with, both options. Some tree jobs are more suited, or more safely done by aerial lifts, while others require a climber’s techniques, and yet a third tree may require both skills to be done safely and efficiently. Lift operators can often reach the ends of branches more easily than a climber limb-walking out to them, but should be careful to avoid making “convenience cuts” to allow the lift access to a blocked area of the canopy. An aerial lift allows the operator to be in various places during the cutting and rigging process, often making the work safer and easier. www.arborage.com