Are You Using the Right Lift for the Job?

By: Shana McGuinn, Contributor

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Turning radius. Horizontal reach. Platform height. Load capacity. These are all factors to take into account when selecting aerial lifts, or mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP), for your facility or worksite. This equipment raises workers to a desired height, so that they can reach the products or supplies they need or perform work tasks. Fortunately, there are lift types to suit many different kinds of circumstances. There are models that are narrow enough to drive through standard doorways and others that can safely raise workers to impressive heights. Lifts are used extensively in construction and warehousing, but also in facilities maintenance, agriculture, bridge work and inspections, industrial, manufacturing, road building, plumbing, painting, entertainment, road building and other industries and applications.

According to ANSI A92.22 Safe Use and A92.24 Training Standards[1], there are two main classifications of MEWPs. Group A includes those with a platform, such as scissor lifts that move vertically but stay inside the tipping lines. Group B are boom-types that move beyond the tipping line. Furthermore, lifts are divided by those that are only allowed to travel when in the stowed position; those that may travel with the work platform elevated and are controlled from a point on the chassis and those that can travel with the work platform elevated and are controlled from a point in the work platform.

Types of Lifts

Boom lifts can raise workers to heights that are significantly higher than other kinds of lifts are capable of. However, that range means that they cannot support as much weight – in terms of workers and material – that other lifts can. An articulating boom (also known as a knuckle boom or up-and-over boom) is ideal for tight spaces because it has a hinged arm that can bend and maneuver around barriers. A telescopic or stick boom lacks that flexibility but has a longer reach. A cherry picker uses a hydraulic crane to lift a bucket high enough so that the workers in it can access power lines, tree branches or…cherries that need picking. This type of lift is attached to a truck.

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Determining what will best meet your needs should start with a careful assessment of the available space and the necessary height that workers will need to reach in order to access products or parts.

Questions to ask:

• Where will the lift be used? If it will have to function in confined spaces or congested areas, the turning radius – the circle size within which a vehicle can turn around – is of utmost importance.
• Will the lift have to travel on unlevel surfaces or rugged terrain? An all-terrain lift could be the best choice for these conditions. When dealing with flooring that could easily be damaged by heavy equipment, look for a lightweight lift.
• Will it have to navigate around obstacles?
• How much vertical and/or horizontal reach will the lift need to have in order to achieve operational goals?
• What kind of lifting apparatus will be optimal for the space: scissor, boom mast or vertical?
• How many workers will need to be on the lift at one time? How much weight will the equipment or supplies on the lift total? The lift chosen must have a sufficient weight capacity for personnel plus material. Additionally, the size of the material matters, because it must not exceed the dimensions of the platform.
• Is it important to limit noise and emissions at your facility? This is especially the case for indoor work. If zero or low emissions are desired, the power source of the lift will be a factor in the selection process. Electric, hybrid, lithium-ion, diesel and fuel-electric hybrid-powered lifts produce varying levels of noise and emissions.
• Are you taking maintenance downtime into consideration when calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO)? Diesel-powered lifts, for instance, tend to need more repairs than those powered by other sources. Equipment that is offline for servicing affects productivity.
• Does the design of the lift enhance the ergonomic comfort of those who will be using it? Workers who must reach overhead or stretch at awkward angles while lifting heavy items too many times a shift may experience musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These injuries – according to OSHA[2] – are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time.
• Does the manufacturer have a reputation for high-quality, durable products? This is always an important question.

Consulting with a lift manufacturer or distributor that has a reputation for excellence and providing that company with the details of how and where the lift will be used will ensure that you choose the model or models that will help you get the job done safely and effectively. WMHS

Shana McGuinn is a freelance writer who has written about occupational safety, environmental issues and health and wellness.

[1] www.assp.org/standards/standards-topics/work-aerial-work-platforms-a92

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