One type of equipment that is commonly used to perform work at heights is the aerial device, which include extensible boom platforms, aerial ladders, articulating booms, pruning towers, and insulated aerial devices. Although these devices incorporate many safety features, workers are injured or killed on aerial lifts each year. The major causes of injuries and fatalities involving aerial devices are falls, electrocutions, and collapses or tip-overs.
While both California and federal requirements for aerial lifts have similarities, California’s requirements are much more extensive and detailed. Cal/OSHA addresses the requirements for aerial devices under Article 24. Federal OSHA addresses their requirements in 1910 Subpart F. When necessary, Federal OSHA will also rely on the General Duty Clause for enforcement of any place of employment with recognized hazards that can cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to their employees.
A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- Aerial baskets or platforms must not be supported by adjacent structure(s) when workers are on the platform or in the basket while in an elevated position.
- Lift controls must be tested according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or instructions before use to determine that such controls are in safe working condition.
- Only authorized personnel shall operate an aerial device.
- Employees shall not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices to increase working height.
- When elevating personnel with the vehicle stationary the braking systems shall be set.
- All outriggers must be equipped with hydraulic holding valves or mechanical locks at the outriggers.
- An aerial device truck shall not be moved when the boom is elevated in a working position with employees in the basket or platform except when all the following conditions are met:
- The equipment is designed for this type of operation according to the specific provisions of Section 3638.
- All controls and signaling devices are tested and are in good operating condition.
- Effective communication must be always maintained between the basket or platform operator and where applicable, the vehicle operator.
- The route to be traveled is surveyed immediately prior to the work trip, checking for overhead obstructions, traffic, holes in the pavement, ground or shoulder, ditches, slopes, etc., for areas other than paved, a survey should be made on foot.
- The speed of the vehicle does not exceed three (3) miles per hour.
- Only one employee is in the basket.
- Both the driver and/or the elevated employee have been specifically trained for this type of work (towering) in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Lower-level controls shall not be operated unless permission has been obtained from the employee in the device, except in case of emergency.
- Before an aerial device is moved for travel, the boom(s) shall be inspected to see that it is properly cradled and outriggers are in stowed position, except as provided in subsection (l).
- While in an elevated aerial device, employees shall be secured to the boom, basket, or tub of the aerial device using a safety belt, body belt, or body harness equipped with safety strap or lanyard.
Exception: Orchard man-lifts manufactured after September 1, 1991, with guardrails 42 inches or higher above the platform floor.
- Safety belts/body belts are prohibited for use in personal fall arrest systems but may be used as part of a fall restraint or positioning device system.
- Safety belts/body belts used as part of a positioning device system shall be rigged such that an employee cannot free fall more than 2 feet.
- A body harness may be used in a personal fall restraint, positioning, or fall arrest system. When a body harness is used in a fall arrest system, the lanyard shall be rigged with a deceleration device to limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds and prevent the employee from hitting any levels or objects below the basket or platform and shall limit free fall to a maximum of 6 feet.
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