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Aerial lifts are vehicle-mounted devices, telescoping or articulating, or both, which are used to position personnel. Aerial equipment may be made of metal, wood, fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), or other material; may be powered or manually operated; and are deemed to be aerial lifts whether or not they are capable of rotating about a substantially vertical axis. This includes aerial ladders, extensible boom platforms, articulating boom platforms, vertical towers, or any combination of these. Aerial lifts do not include manlifts, scissor lifts, forklifts, or firefighting equipment.
Aerial devices must be designed and constructed in conformance with the American National Standard for “Vehicle Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms,” ANSI A92.2 - 1969, including the appendix.
Scope
OSHA’s General Industry regulations only address aerial lifts that are vehicle-mounted with an elevating and rotating platform. For other types of equipment, such as scissor lifts, OSHA utilizes the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act to hold employers responsible for safety.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1910.67 — Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms
- General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, where OSHA references industry standards such as:
- ANSI/SIA A92.2 — Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms
- ANSI/SIA A92.5 — Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms
- ANSI/SIA A92.7 — Airline Ground Support Vehicle-Mounted Vertical Lift Devices
- ANSI/SIA A92.8 — Vehicle-Mounted Inspection and Maintenance Devices
- ANSI/SIA A92.9 — Mast-Climbing Work Platforms
Key definitions
- Aerial device: Any vehicle-mounted device, telescoping or articulating, or both, which is used to position personnel.
- Aerial ladder: An aerial device consisting of a single- or multiple-section extensible ladder.
- Articulating boom platform: An aerial device with two or more hinged boom sections.
- Extensible boom platform: An aerial device (except ladders) with a telescopic or extensible boom. Telescopic derricks with personnel platform attachments are considered to be extensible boom platforms when used with a personnel platform.
- Platform: Any personnel-carrying device (basket or bucket) which is a component of an aerial device.
- Vehicle: Any carrier that is not manually propelled.
- Vertical tower: An aerial device designed to elevate a platform in a substantially vertical axis.
Summary of requirements
The following are based on requirements, ANSI standards, Letters of Interpretation, and best practices. Employers need to ensure that:
- Only trained and authorized persons are allowed to operate an aerial lift.
- A qualified person conducts training and performs an evaluation of the operator.
- Training for operators is done in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations for instruction, operation, and maintenance outlined in the operator’s manual for each lift.
- Refresher training is provided when there are observed deficiencies in operation, accident or near misses, or a different type of lift is used.
- Lifts are inspected prior to use and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations in the operator’s manual.
- The operator’s manual is present on the lift at all times for operation, maintenance, and training needs.
- Fall protection must be used. It must be a personal fall arrest or travel restraint system that meets the requirements in 1910 Subpart I and attached to the boom or basket.
- Capacity limits as specified by the manufacturer are observed.
- The lift is not used as a crane.
- Proper operation and use procedures are used.
- Weather precautions, such as high wind, are observed.
- Power line safety is observed.
- Outriggers and other stability measures are taken.
- Insulating equipment is maintained and tested properly.