CITE's Workplace Safety Blog

ANSI (United States) and CSA (Canada) standards have, for almost four decades, provided best practices for safe, reliable access to work at height and have delivered a consistent benchmark for safe machine design in North America. Standards set a safety level for all participants in the market. Good standards also bring global markets closer together, driving commonality and stronger market competition.

Originally published by Aerial Pros Author Scott Owyen - Training Manager Genie Aerial Pros: https://www.genielift.com/en/about-genie/news/2018/12/04/everything-is-changing

What is the most important thing you should understand before you use an aerial lift? The information in the operator's manual. Many, if not most, work-related injuries involving aerial lifts happen when operators assume they know how to operate a lift, but do not follow the manufacturer's instructions. Regardless of the type of lift you use – a boom-supported lift or a scissor lift – you must follow the lift manufacturer's operating and maintenance instructions. Also, you must be trained by a person who understands the hazards associated with the lift.

Originally published by Oregon OSHA Construction Depot: https://osha.oregon.gov/pubs/newsletters/constructiondepot/OSHAConstructionDepot/2016/02/aerial-lifts-follow-instructions.html

UPDATE: Worker Killed in Mill Accident

The coroner’s office identified the victim of yesterday’s industrial accident as 64-year-old Mike Vander Veen of Forest Hill, California.

The cause of death appears to be accidental electrocution, according to the office, and an autopsy is scheduled for Jan. 8.

Originally published by Grant Scott-Goforth at North Coast Journal: https://www.northcoastjournal.com/NewsBlog/archives/2015/01/06/worker-killed-in-mill-accident

This is a great example as to why your workers need appropriate training on aerial lifts before using them.

Does your training company provide training on overhead hazards, electrocution, work place inspections?

Or does your training company simply give you a 30-minute class and then issue a qualified operator card?

Fall protection requirements for aerial lifts

If you are going to operate an aerial lift, you must be trained how to use it and you must be protected from falling or being ejected when you are on the platform. The type of fall protection you need depends on the type of lift you use. The American National Standards Institute defines and sets operating standards for four different types of aerial lifts:

Originally published by Oregon OSHA Construction Depot:
https://osha.oregon.gov/pubs/newsletters/constructiondepot/OSHAConstructionDepot/2014/05/fall-protection-requirements-for-aerial-lifts.html

The American Rental Association (ARA), the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and the Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) have joined forces to help develop the document, “Statement of Best Practices of General Training and Familiarization for Aerial Work Platform Equipment.”

The 20-page document can be downloaded as a PDF at:
http://www.ipaf.org/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/us/AWP_BPG_2010.pdf.