Summary Statement
Provides information on the causes of deaths on various types of aerial lifts, the trades most often involved and suggestions to avoid death and injury.
May 2002
Presented
at the 12th Annual Construction Safety & Health Conference &
Exposition, Rosemont, Illinois, May 2002.
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From 1992-99, there were 26 deaths per year from lifts in construction.
- 18 per year from
boom-supported lifts
- 8 per year from scissor and other vertical lifts
This
is 3% of all deaths in construction
Causes of Death from Aerial
Lifts in Construction, 1992-99
#Data for scissor lifts do not meet Bureau of Labor Statistics publication
criteria
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data
Deaths from Aerial Lifts
in Construction, by Trade, 1992-99
#Data from scissor lifts does not meet Bureau of Lab or Statistics publication
criteria
* Electricians, electrician apprentices, power installers, and their
supervisors
** Structural metal workers and welders and cutters
*** Includes plumbers, pipe fitters and steam fitters, brick masons
and stone masons , drywall installers
Source : US Bureau of Labor Statistics data
Boom-Supported Lifts
Electrocutions
- almost all due to overhead power lines
-
1/2 of electrocutions involved body contact with overhead power lines
-
One-third involved overhead power lines contacting lift booms or buckets
Falls
- 1/2 of fatal
falls involved ejection from the bucket after worker or lifts was
struck by vehicles, cranes or objects.
-
1/6 occurred while transferring to or from the bucket at a height
- 2/5 of deaths
involved collapse of boom
- Almost one-third
were due to tipovers.
- 1/4 involved
collapses of bucket
- Most involved
the worker getting caught between the bucket edge and a roof joist or
beam.
Struck
by/against
- Mostly involved
workers being struck by collapsing materials, girders, etc.
Scissor Lifts
Falls
- 1/5 of deaths
involved ejections, after being struck by object
- Cause of fall
unknown in 3/5 of deaths
- Other causes included
removal of chains, standing on or leaning over railings
- Caused almost
1/3 of scissor lift deaths
- Mostly while elevated
over 15 feet
- 1/4 of tipovers occurred where lift hit a hole or curb while moving
- 1/2 involved overhead power lines
Renting an Aerial Lift
- Get maintenance
history of aerial lift
- Get operator's manual
and maintenance manual (if separate)
- Ensure a detailed
maintenance check is done before rental
- Make sure operator
controls are easily accessible and properly marked
Operator Training
- Training must
be done by a qualified person experienced with the particular lift model
- Training must
include:
- Nature of
electrical, fall, and other hazards involved in operating lift
- Precautions
for dealing with hazards
- Rated load
capacity for the lift (including workers, tools, materials, bucket
liner, etc.)
- Manufacturer
requirements, as outlined in operator manual
- Demonstration
of skill and knowledge in actual operation of the aerial lift
Qualified Person Definition
- Nature of
electrical, fall, and other hazards involved in operating lift
-
OSHA 1926.450(b)
A qualified person ....by extensive knowledge, training, and experience can....solve....problems related to the subject matter....
Maintenance Requirements
- Training of mechanics
should be done by qualified person experienced with lift model
- Maintenance should
include:
- Knowledge
of manufacturer's maintenance requirements
- Frequent inspections
of aerial lift by qualified mechanic
- At least annual
detailed inspections by qualified mechanic
- Knowledge
of manufacturer's maintenance requirements
- Insulated aerial
lifts have special electrical test requirements
- De-energize and lockout/tagout aerial lift before conducting maintenance and repairs
Before Operating Aerial Lifts
- Do not modify
aerial lift without written permission
- Check safety devices,
operating controls before each use
- Check area in
which aerial lift will be used for:
- Level surface
(Do not exceed manufacturer slope recommendations)
- Holes, drop-offs,
bumps, debris, etc.
- Overhead obstructions
and overhead power lines
- Stable surface
- Other hazards
- Level surface
(Do not exceed manufacturer slope recommendations)
Set outriggers, brakes, wheel chocks
Preventing
Electrocutions
- Non-electrical workers
must stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
- Electrical workers
must de-energize/insulate power lines or use proper PPE/equipment.
- Use insulated buckets
near overhead power lines
Regularly check insulation on buckets
Preventing Tip-Overs
- Do not exceed
manufacturer rated load capacity limits
- Do not travel
to job location with lift in elevated position.
- Set up proper
work zone protection when working near traffic
- Positioning of
lifts
- Do not drive
near drop-offs or holes.
- Do not raise
platform on uneven or soft surfaces.
- Do not drive
onto uneven or soft surfaces when elevated.
- Do not raise
platform on slope or drive onto slope when elevated.
- Do not raise
platform in windy or gusty conditions.
- Do not drive
near drop-offs or holes.
- Avoid excessive
horizontal forces when working on elevated scissor lifts
Fall Protection
- OSHA regulates
aerial lifts as scaffolds
- 1926.453 Aerial
Lifts only applies to bucket trucks
- Fall protection
is required (full body harness with lanyard or body belt with 2-foot
lanyard as restraint device)
- OSHA does
not require harnesses and lanyards on other boom lifts and scissor
lifts if there are guardrails
- 1926.453 Aerial
Lifts only applies to bucket trucks
- Fall arrest systems
(harness plus lanyard to stop a fall)
- Can tip over
some boom lifts and scissor lifts due to fall stopping force
- Can tip over
some boom lifts and scissor lifts due to fall stopping force
- Fall restraint
systems intended to prevent falls are preferred
- e.g. Full
body harness plus lanyard designed for size of lift platform
- e.g. Full
body harness plus lanyard designed for size of lift platform
- Always close entrance
chains or doors
- Stand on floor
of bucket or lift platform
- Do not climb on or lean over guardrails