Even in the best of circumstances — when architects and planners consult with maintenance managers about the design of a new building — some areas of facilities can be difficult to reach. Such discussions don’t occur that often, though, and when you add the ever-changing nature of operations within facilities to the situation, the result is a host of awkward and difficult-to-reach areas in many institutional and commercial facilities.
Maintenance and engineering technicians still need to reach these areas, however, and that is where aerial work platforms come in. Equipment options in this area have expanded over the years — see the accompanying article — to meet the needs of end users in facilities seeking to carry out essential tasks.
Among the issues for managers in this area is identifying department needs for lift equipment, determining whether to buy or rent lifts, and keeping workers safe on and around the equipment.
Owning lift own equipment might be the best option if workers use it frequently, which can justify the initial cost, as well as ongoing costs for insurance, maintenance and storage.
Rental is the most common strategy, even in construction companies that use the equipment fairly frequently but with periods of idleness between projects.
Another factor that plays into the rental choice is the variety of types of work maintenance workers perform. If some jobs are inside and others outside, for example, workers might require different types of lifts at different times. Some might be designed for rougher terrain and steeper grades, while others feature hard tires for use on inside, smooth and level floors.
If workers will use the lift fairly frequently but managers are still doubtful about purchasing, the best strategy might be to group several lift jobs together, rent a lift, and get them all done at the same time. The rental is an expense, so it can be written off as a tax deduction for the year during which the rental occurred.
This strategy also gives managers the chance to evaluate lift equipment and features on specific job-site conditions without having to make a long-term commitment or maintain the unit.
If a few short-term experiences have confirmed that the lift equipment meet the department’s needs, and if the finance department concurs that it makes sense to purchase a unit, a manager then can make the decision to purchase and depreciate the unit over several years. Managers also need to remember, however, that with the decision to purchase comes the owner’s responsibility for equipment maintenance and insurance.
Among the key points to consider when choosing an aerial work platform for overhead work include looking into:
To get the most appropriate equipment on the job site, managers next need to take a summary of this information to dealers referred by other users. A dealer will need to demonstrate the equipment at the work site under actual conditions.
This approach has two advantages. First, managers get to see the functions as they are performed to ensure the equipment meets worker requirements are met. Second, with all interested parties observing the tests, managers can begin the training by seeing how the equipment is properly inspected, prepared for use, and used on operations specific to the job by experienced operators.
Especially important in this phase is careful attention to the proper and complete steps to check equipment and safety devices. Workers must ensure proper leveling and stabilize each outrigger placement. These areas are often the starting point for problems, accidents and injuries.
As the demonstration proceeds, managers should review the unit’s:
As is evident from this list at the botton of this page, quite a bit of overlap exists among models of lift equipment. If a manager’s range of requirements for height, extension, and maneuverability are narrow, just about any of the designs will work to some degree.
But at the outer limits of capacity, managers must more carefully consider their options. For example, if the lift is perfect in all respects but too large to get to the job site or can’t maneuver under existing grade conditions, it won’t do the job. So is it important to talk to other users and have the seller’s trained operator demonstrate the unit at the work site.
Any shortcomings in this setting will become more readily apparent, and managers can change the specs before making the final decision to rent or buy.
Worker safety is a team effort. It encompasses not only the manufacturer, but the owner, lessor, the lessee worker’s management and supervision, and the equipment operator. If anyone drops the ball, the consequences can be fatal.
Take the recent death of a worker in New York City, for example. An aerial work platform tipped over while in use, sending the millwright with 13 years experience falling more than 50 feet to his death. Investigation uncovered several errors and maintenance shortcomings that contributed to the fatal accident. No manuals were provided with the rental unit, no training was provided for this use, and some of the unit’s safety features were not operational.
Safe operation requires the following commitments from all involved:
Such standards provided by OSHA and ANSI govern the training for and operation and maintenance of aerial work platforms. These standards go into considerable detail on training responsibilities of dealers, owners, users, operators, lessors and lessees.
Still, these are minimum requirements. Mandating that all parties involved understand and follow proper procedures and safety steps is the best path to successful risk management.
Understanding Equipment Options
Among the types of aerial-work platforms available for managers to consider are these:
— Thomas A. Westerkamp |
LIFT ResourcesSeveral important standards govern the use of aerial work platforms. They include:
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