Monthly Archives: March 2012

Aerial and Scissor Lift Training: What’s the difference?

Lift Training Could Mean the Difference Between Life and Death

News stories that deal with work-related accidents in construction and other fields frequently service. We know employee lives are in danger on job sites where scissor lift and aerial lift training are used – yet, tragedy doesn’t really hit home until we see it on the local news, or know a person or family whose lives are impacted by a serious tragedy involving an aerial lift.

Many potential employees look forward to operating an aerial lift, and learning the tools of the trade. However, looking forward to going to work can turn into tragedy without the proper aerial lift online certification. For instance, we can examine the case of two sheet metal workers in Framingham, MA, who recently lost their lives to improper aerial lift training.

Two employees of the Framingham company were working in a Grove model A125J aerial lift’s elevated basket. During a routine rooftop inspection, the lift fell over as it was being lowered. A later OSHA inspection resulted in the conclusion that the lift was lowered improperly – which in turn cost employee lives.

After further inspection, OSHA inspectors determined that the aerial lift operator on the job had not received adequate online or real time scissor lift training, or appropriate OSHA aerial lift training. The employee in question was also not given the hands-on education in using the aerial lift that OSHA requires before use.

Because of this accident, one employee ended up dead, and the other was seriously injured. The company received OSHA fines in excess of $31,000. We’ve said it time and time again – these types of fines are enough to literally shut down a company.

There’s nothing worth the loss of life. Your employees are loyal, and the law requires that your protect them and your business investments by ensuring OSHA mandated scissor lift training and aerial lift training online are a part of your everyday operations. It’s just too risky to get unseasoned employees up on your lifts.

aerial lift training

United Rentals offers online trench safety training and certification

Online trench safety training and certification.

United Rentals of Greenwich, Connecticut announced the release of a new trench safety training course. This course is meant for excavators whose primary role at work in and around open trenches.

Related safety courses allow excavators to become OSHA compliant while operating heavy machinery. US Federal OSHA guidelines require individuals who operate aerial and scissor lifts to receive the proper OSHA certification.

Certain documentation is needed for any qualified professional to operate an aerial or scissor lift. United Rentals is not the only company in the US to feature online training. Train the trainer, fall protection, and rough terrain forklift, aerial and scissor lift training are all covered under a variety of online courses available from different merchants.

Why are Trenches Different?

Trench safety requires a particular knowledge of aerial and scissor lift equipment and deployment in order to make sure the employees are safe. Excavation can be risky business, and an operator who is using an aerial or scissor lift and work near open trenches faces a different set of risks than a different kind of lift operator may deal with on a daily basis.

Equipment taking over, falling from the lift while it is in the trench and being rolled over, or having other heavy machinery cause serious injury are all part and parcel of the types of risks faced by aerial lift operators.

How Can a Worker Avoid Accidents?

The first step to avoiding an accident while operating an aerial or scissor lift is to receive the proper aerial lift certification. Aerial lifts have their own set of guidelines, particularly when they are being operated near a trench. Rough terrain certification and the proper trench training saves lives.

Aerial Lift Training for Your Employees Made Easy

Aerial and Scissor Lift Training Could Mean the Difference Between Life and Death

“The employee in question was also not given the hands-on education in using the aerial lift that OSHA requires before use.”

We know employee lives are in danger on job sites where scissor lift and aerial lift training are used – yet, tragedy doesn’t really hit home until we see it on the local news, or know a person or family whose lives are impacted by a serious tragedy involving an aerial lift.

Inadequate training leads to tragic death and OSHA sanctions.

After further inspection, OSHA inspectors determined that the aerial lift operator on the job had not received adequate time scissor lift training, or appropriate OSHA aerial lift training. The employee in question was also not given the hands-on education in using the aerial lift that OSHA requires before use.

Lessons learned.