Aerial lifts and scissor lifts are used so often for so many different types of jobs that it’s easy to forget how high they reach. When you’re caught up in work, you can lose sight of the reach capacity of many lifts – but hopefully not high enough where you lose sight of the ground. (Don’t worry: no aerial lift reaches that high!)
Aerial lift safety has never been more important or visible in the news. A recent OSHA event highlighted the importance of fall protection on aerial lifts, scissor lifts, and aerial work platforms (AWPs).
A boom lift is an aerial work platform that enables people to work safely in high places. Boom lifts have many applications, including work situations that are hard to reach and dangerous. There are many types of boom lifts to choose from. Three of the most popular include articulating, telescopic and atrium. The type of boom used depends on three main factors:
1. Maximum height of the workspace
2. Maximum weight the boom can support
3. Whether the boom can be angled or simply lifted straight up and down
Workplace safety is a global concern. The United Nations’ International Labor Organization estimates that each day, 6,300 people die throughout the world from accidents on the job or work-related illnesses. That comes to more than 2.3 million deaths a year. The economic impact of employees killed or hurt while at work is estimated to be four percent of the Global Gross Domestic Product, which is the value of all goods and services produced worldwide. That four percent amounts to over three trillion dollars a year!
Do your employees work above ground on a regular basis? If so, you may be thinking about buying a scissor lift. Scissor lifts offer several benefits for companies that engage in above-ground work. They can be used indoors and outside. They replace the need for ladders, towers or scaffolding. They allow operators to complete jobs quicker by reducing setup times. The platforms can hold many different types of equipment needed for a job. Most important, scissor lifts provide safe access to hard-to-reach areas.
Clearly, there are many advantages to using a scissor lift. But buying one does require a big investment. So before you make the big decision, here are some important factors you need to know.
