Walking under an aerial lift boom
There's a debate going on with various safety professionals from different contractors:
Is it acceptable to allow workers to walk under the boom of an elevated aerial lift boom while the lift is not in use? Due to space limitations, the aerial lifts are parked with their booms elevated while not in use and workers freely walk under the booms to access the building and other work areas. JLG does allow for aerials lifts to be parked with boom elevated as long as it's retracted. Thoughts or code/recommended practices that are being missed?
Comments (5)
Do not allow them to walk under the elevated platform for any reason. It's the same reason you don't walk under elevated forks on a forklift - the hydraulics can fail and cause an injury or fatality.
Neither OSHA or ANSI specifically mention/prohibit this, but most MEWP manufacturers will say this is prohibited in their user manual.
Below is an excerpt from a user manual of a JLG aerial lift:
"Warn personnel not to work, stand, or walk under a raised boom or platform. Position barricades on floor if necessary."
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