Aerial Lifts

& Other Elevating Platforms

Chuck Northam
www.safetyresourcesllc.com
 Federal OSHA Regulations

29CFR1926.453 Subpart “L”, Aerial Lifts

29CFR1910.67 Subpart “F”

Vehicle-Mounted Elevating & Rotating Work Platforms

29CFR1910.333 Subpart “S”

ANSI Standards

ANSI/SIA A92.2-2001 Manual of

Responsibilities for Dealers, Owners, Users,
Operators, Lessors, and Lessees of Vehicle-
Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices.

ANSI/SIA A92.3-1990, Manually Propelled

Elevating Aerial Platforms

ANSI/SIA A92.6-1999, Self-Propelled

Elevating Work Platforms

ANSI/SIA A92.7-1998, Airline Ground

Support Vehicle-Mounted Vertical Lift Devices

ANSI/SIA A92.8-1993 (reaffirmed 1998),

Vehicle-Mounted Bridge Inspection and
Maintenance Devices
Federal OSHA Exemptions

Remember: This section does not

apply to fire fighting equipment
Definitions

 Aerial Device: Any vehicle mounted or

self propelled device, telescoping
extensible or articulation, or both,
which are designed to position
personnel.
 Articulation Boom: An aerial device with two or
more hinged boom sections.
 Aerial Ladder: An aerial device consisting of a
single or multiple section
extensible ladder.
 Boom: An elevating member; the lower end of
which is attached to a rotating or non-
rotating base that permits elevation of
the free or outer end.
 Definitions - cont.

Elevating Work Platform: A device designed to

elevate a platform in a
substantially vertical axis
(vertical tower, scissor lift).
Extensible Boom Platform: An aerial device with
an extensible boom.
Telescopic booms with
personnel platforms
attachments shall be
considered to be extensible
boom platforms
Vertical Tower: An aerial device designed to elevate
a platform in a substantially vertical
axis.
Work Environment Considerations

 Location of the work:

– Inside or outside
– Enough room
– Gas, propane, diesel, electric or manually powered
 Operating Terrain
– Hard or soft tires
 Maximum height required
 Weight capacity needed
 Fall protection needed
 Energized lines or equipment present
Manufacture’s Requirements

 An “operations manual” is required

– Manual must cover maintenance
 An “identification plate” that includes:
– Make, model and I.D.#
– Rated capacity
– Maximum travel height
– Maximum operating pressure of
hydraulic/pneumatic system
– Rated line voltage
– Cautions &/or restrictions
Training

 OSHA requires that all Operators be

trained for the aerial device they are
using (Qualified Operator). This
training is to be documented, retained
and available.
Training
General Requirements

 Guardrails 42 inches high required on all

sides. Where a guardrail is less than 42 inches high
personal fall protection is required.
 A midrail and toeboards are required on all sides.
 No one can sit or stand on the guardrails.
 Securing to an adjacent pole, structure or other
equipment is prohibited.
 Putting a scaffold, ladder, box, bucket, planks, etc.
to increase the height of a platform is prohibited.
 Aerial devices can not be leaned upon buildings,
structures, or other equipment.
General Requirements - cont.

 Articulating boom and extensible boom

platforms, primarily designed as personnel
carriers shall have both platform (upper) and
lower controls.
 Vehicles must be inspected prior to use and
annually (ANSI Standard Requirement).
 Elevated Platform
Traveling Requirements

 A worker can ride an aerial device in an

elevated position when permitted by the
manufacturer and the following conditions are
met
– Travel speed does not exceed three (3)
feet per second
– Units that have maximum travel height
shall have an interlock to prohibit
movement.
– Surface is level with no hazards or
accumulation of debris
 Aerial Devices Around
Energized Equipment or Line

 Near energized lines/equipment aerial

devices shall be grounded or barricaded and
considered as energized equipment, or the
aerial device shall be insulated for the voltage
exposure.
 Insulating booms of aerial devices used for
work on energized high voltage conductors
and equipment shall have a dielectric test
performed every 12 months (ANSI regulation)
 Equipment, materials, or tools shall not be
passed between a pole or structure and an
aerial device while a worker from the aerial
device is in reaching distance of unprotected
energized equipment/lines.
CFR 1910.333 Table S-5 
Approach Distances for Qualified Employees
                    -- Alternating Current
 
-------------------------------
+------------------------------- Voltage range             
Minimum approach                   
                       distance            
-------------------------------+------------------------------- |
300V and less.................   Avoid contact.                 
Over 300V, not over 750V.      1 ft. 0 in. (30.5 cm).        
Over 750V, not over 2kV.        1 ft. 6 in. (46 cm).          
Over 2kV, not over 15kV.        2 ft. 0 in (61 cm).           
Over 15kV, not over 37kV.       3 ft. 0 in. (91 cm).          
Over 37kV, not over 87.5kV.     3 ft. 6 in. (107 cm).        
Over 87.5kV, not over 121kV.    4 ft. 0 in. (122 cm).        
Over 121kV, not over 140kV.     4 ft. 6 in. (137 cm).        
------------------------------------------------------------- 
Genie Lift
Compliant??
 Retractable handrails results in
personal fall protection needed...
Hard tire scissor lift...
Aerial lift with power platform
extension
Remove
material
& debris from
lift platform
Damaged equipment is to be repaired.
Why is a compressed gas cylinder and
“hot” work dangerous on an aerial lift?
Rough-Terrain Boom lift.
Another Type of Boom Lift
What’s missing?
Elevator OK??
Articulating Boom lift.
Instructions & warnings on a boom lift
Not Even Close….
Only use equipment for it’s intended design
Questions??