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A
Tradition of Excellence
IATSE
Local 363
Industry Wide
Labor-Management Safety Committee
Safety Bulletin
#22
Guidelines for the Use of Elevating Work Platforms (Scissor Lifts) and
Aerial Extensible Boom Platforms
- These guidelines are
applicable to vertically operated elevated work platforms or
"Scissors Lifts" and boom mounted, telescoping and rotating,
elevating work platforms, such as "Condors".
- Only persons trained in the
safe use of these work platforms are authorized to operate these
devices. Certification of the employee may be fulfilled by the qualified
Safety Director of the Employer or by the Industry-Wide Training
program, sponsored by the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund (CSATF).
CSATF will issue employees a certificate upon satisfactory completion of
authorized training. Persons, in classifications for which there is an
Industry Experience Roster, will be skill identified on the Roster.
- Equipment shall be
inspected prior to operation for satisfactory condition, damage and
defects. This shall include all operational controls, which shall be in
proper functioning condition.
- Operators shall report all
discrepancies to their supervisors.
- Operators shall consider
the job to be performed and shall evaluate the job site location for
potential hazards. This equipment shall not be operated within 10 feet
of an energized, high voltage source unless danger from accidental
contact with that source has been effectively guarded against. The
operation of aerial devices/work platforms OVER energized, high-voltage
sources of any sort is prohibited at all times.
- Appropriate measure should
be taken to ensure that the job site's surface is stable and will
support the equipment and that there are no hazardous irregularities or
accumulation of debris which might cause a moving platform to overturn.
Survey the route to be traveled, checking for overhead obstructions;
traffic; holes in the pavement, ground, or shoulder; ditches, slope of
road, etc. Operation of these devices on inclined surfaces shall NOT
exceed manufacturers' ratings. Wheel chocks shall be used on inclined
surfaces.
- Approved safety belts, with
lanyard or safety strap, shall be worn when using these work platforms:
- The safety strap or
lanyard shall be securely attached to the boom, basket, tub or
platform.
- The safety strap or
lanyard shall be attached in a manner that prevents a free-fall of
more than 4 feet.
- Belting-off to an
adjacent pole, structure or equipment while working from the basket,
tub or platform is NOT PERMITTED.
- Objects or production
equipment with the potential of falling from an aerial basket/platform
shall be secured with an adequate safety lanyard.
- The basket, tub or platform
shall NOT be loaded beyond its rated capacity.
- Ladders, planks or other
objects shall NOT be placed in, or on top of the platform or guard rail
to gain greater height. Employees shall NOT sit or climb on the edge of
the basket/platform.
- "Climbers" (pole
climbing equipment) shall NOT be worn while performing work from an
aerial device. The risk of falling while climbing in or out of the
basket is too great.
- Workers shall NOT work from
aerial work platforms when:
- exposed to extreme
weather conditions (thunderstorms, heavy rain, extreme heat or cold)
unless provisions have been made to ensure protection and safety of
the workers.
- winds exceed 25 miles per
hour.
- Aerial baskets, tubs or
platforms shall NOT be supported by, or attached to, any adjacent
structures.
- Where moving vehicles or
pedestrian traffic is present, the work area around the aerial equipment
shall be marked by flags, signs, traffic cones or other means of traffic
control.
- The braking system shall be
set when elevating employees and when wheel chocks are used. Never leave
this equipment unattended if you have stopped it on a ramp, grade or
incline until you have chocked at least one tire.
NOTE: These vehicles
will creep if not on a level which can be set to prevent creeping. Avoid
stopping on a grade if possible.
- Outriggers must be on solid
footing and shall be equipped with hydraulic holding valves or
mechanical locks at the outriggers.
- Operate all controls slowly
to ensure smooth platform movement.
- Do NOT use an aerial device
as a welding ground. Do NOT weld on an aerial device without first
disconnecting both positive and negative battery terminals. Refer to
manufacturer's equipment manual.
- Do NOT attempt to raise
platform/basket beyond its rated maximum height or reach.
- "TOWERING"
(traveling with a worker in the basket) is NOT permitted.
- Aerial platforms when in
operation shall be solely under the control of the operator in the
basket. At no time shall the equipment be moved, lowered, or otherwise
controlled from the secondary (ground control) panel unless the operator
in the basket makes a request that it be done, or the operator is ill or
otherwise incapacitated. Switching controls and moving the equipment in
any manner without the consent of the operator while the operator is in
the basket is prohibited.
- Boom-mounted telescoping
and rotating aerial platforms shall NOT be used as a crane (objects
slung below the basket).
- When moving scissor
lift-type platforms, operators shall first position themselves on board
the platform, then conduct all moving operations from that position.
- When moving this equipment
forward, do not engage the REVERSE switch until the vehicle has come to
a complete stop. Use the REVERSE only as an emergency measure should the
equipment continue to crawl after releasing the stop switch. Use the
FORWARD only as an emergency measure should the equipment continue to
crawl after releasing the stop switch.
CAUTION: Do not use either of
these emergency measures if doing so will endanger anyone in the vicinity.
These are only guidelines.
Refer to the Manufacturer's operating manual on each type of equipment, due
to operational differences in various equipment and manufacturers.
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