Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/92263
safety watch | by Amy Materson Fatal falls Know when to move – or when not to move – an elevated aerial lift. The accident: A welder was preparing to survey and weld joints at the top of a steel frame that had just been erected. Using a scissor lift platform to access the work area, he extended the lift approximately 12 feet. While in an elevated position, the welder moved the scissor lift forward, causing the wheels to roll into a depression surrounding a nearby concrete pit under construction. The scissor lift toppled over and ejected the welder headfi rst into the pit. He died on the site from a skull fracture, contusions and laceration of the brain. The bottom line: A post-acci- dent investigation determined the contractor had rented an articulat- ing hydraulic boom lift for crews to use while performing elevated work. Even though the boom lift was available, the worker chose to use the scissor lift instead. Once the welder reached the correct height, he then moved the lift forward while still on the raised platform, causing the wheels to enter the depression around the pit. There were no guards, bar- riers or other controls to prevent the lift from falling into the pit, and there were no spotters used. The employer had a safety pro- gram in place, and the worker was certifi ed and experienced in using both articulating boom lifts and scissor lifts. Easily avoidable Although some accidents can't easily be prevented, this one didn't have to happen. Perform- ing the proper hazard assessment and control implementation would have kept this worker alive. Prior to using an aerial lift, take the fol- lowing steps: 1. Hazard assessment. Perform a thorough walk-through of the site and take note of any depres- sions, pits or other obstacles. 2. Implement controls. If you'll be working around hazardous areas, erect guards or barriers to prevent the lift from accessing a Information for this Safety Watch came from an accident report, OSHA, the Center for Disease Control's NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program and Tony Groat, executive vice Date of safety talk: Attending: Leader: dangerous location. 3. Enlist a spotter. Any time you move a piece of equipment, have a spotter handy to alert you to potential hazards. When raised, the lift's center of gravity is higher, allowing the lift to more easily fall over if the wheels fi nd an uneven surface. Every lift will have recommenda- tions from the manufacturer on when it is and isn't safe to drive an elevated lift. Know the restric- tions that must be addressed prior to operation. Tony Groat, execu- tive vice president, AWPT, recom- mends traveling to the work area in the lowered position. "Travel- ing at higher speeds over uneven surfaces will cause impact at the platform to be magnifi ed consid- erably," he says. "This will cause instability and danger to the oc- cupants." For a fact sheet on using aerial lifts, visit the OSHA website: http://www.osha.gov/Publica- tions/aerial-lifts-factsheet.pdf president of American Work Platform Training (awpt.org). It is meant for general information only. Sponsored by Tear this out and share with your crew EW1112 Tear along perforated edges Illustration by Don Lomax