The new generation personnel lift is designed to give technicians safer and easier access to the hard-to-reach areas of commercial and institutional facilities. However, engineering and maintenance departments can maximize the capacity of the equipment if managers avoid making mistakes when either purchasing or renting. By understanding the most common mistakes that managers make when purchasing or renting lift equipment, managers will be in a better position to choose the right equipment for the needs of their department.
Mistakes in purchasing or renting lift equipment can be expensive not just to the bottom line but also in terms of productivity and safety. When managers avoid these mistakes, they can make smart decisions. Here are some common mistakes that managers should avoid.
Hazards
Managers fail to consider the hazards associated with the use of aerial lift platforms. Common hazards related to these lifts can cause injury or death. Some of these hazards include objects falling from heights, falls, tip-overs, electric shock, collapses, contact with moving objects, entanglement and contact with overhead objects or ceilings.
In some cases, some of these hazards are always present. For instance, workers can get entangled in a cable attached to the external side of the platform and get dragged from the platform. A worker can also touch an electrified object and get a shock and this can cause a fall from the platform and lead to serious injuries or death.
Training
From personnel lift makers to the users, training is very important. Managers can fail to consider training during the specification process. According to OSHA, training and re-training should be done at the right times. After any major changes, training should be conducted.
Outdated specifications
Managers need to know that specifications change from time to time. It is a mistake to replace the outdated lift with a new lift using the same specifications. When you do so, you create a lot of risks. The aerial lift needs and the conditions of the job site might be different from when you did the last purchase. Lifts with new technology might also offer safer and more productive alternatives at lower costs.
Reach
Overestimating or underestimating the reach requirements of a lift can be problematic. If crews use anaerial lift with a boom, then it could lead to the need to lower the bottom to ensure the weight is far off the mass’ centre causing an imbalance that will be hard to control. This can result in a tip over. When a boom that is too short is used, it could result in the employee trying to reach the job by climbing the platform railing and falling.
Needs
Overestimating or underestimating functional requirements can be problematic when choosing a personnel lift. For example, managers can specify a boom lift when the obstructions require employees to use articulated boom lifts. Boom lifts might satisfy only height requirements. Doing this can lead to technicians climbing or leaning out of the platform to get to the job area which is a very dangerous situation.
