Elevated Work Platform - Duralift

10 Safety Tips for Operating EWP’s on Construction Sites

The No. 1 priority for EWP (elevated work platform) providers is to offer safe, productive elevated work platforms for customers working at heights.

Once the equipment is on the job site, operators must follow best operating practices outlined in the risk assessment manual or in Duralift’s case the QR code videos as well to ensure a safe and productive working environment.

The best way to prevent incidents from happening whilst operating an elevated work platform on a job site is to know and follow these 10 tips for safe work practices:

1.Read, understand and obey all employer safety rules and worksite regulations, as well as any applicable local, governmental or provincial regulations that apply before operating the machine.

2.Perform a pre-operation inspection and function tests on the equipment before each shift. If it is the first time you have used the machine this has been done for you prior to delivery. If the machine fails any of these tests, make sure it is immediately tagged and removed from service until it can be repaired by a qualified service technician. Give Duralift a call and we will have it up and running again in no time.

3.Perform a workplace risk assessment prior to moving a machine around on the job site. Look for drop-offs and holes, slopes, slippery or unstable surfaces, overhead obstacles, power lines and any other hazards that may exist and develop a plan to avoid those hazards through all phases of machine operation.

4.Wear the proper fall protection. Two harnesses are provided with boom lifts and are required to be work to reduce the potential for an operator being catapulted from the platform of a boom. The slightest jar at the base of the machine can equate into a sudden and powerful whiplash at the platform—if this happens, wearing the proper fall protection may reduce the chances of serious injury or even death.

5.Do not sit, stand or climb on the platform guardrails. Operators should maintain a firm footing on the platform floor at all times.

6.Do not exit an elevated boom or scissor lift platform unless properly trained to do so, maintain 100 percent tie-off at all times.

7.Do not climb down from the platform when it is raised. Whenever possible, keep a cell phone or two-way radio while on the platform and always have a rescue plan in place in the event that aerial machine is not equipped with an auxiliary lowering system (or if that system malfunctions).

8.Keep the platform floor clear of debris. Scrap materials, buckets, large tool boxes and other items can cause a serious tripping hazard—remove any item from the platform that is not absolutely necessary to perform work.

9.Lower the platform entry mid-rail or close the entry gate before operating an EWP. Never tape or prop the entry open and don’t use the machine if the gate does not properly latch.

10.Receive proper training (both general training and hands-on practical training) on, as well as become familiar with, the exact aerial work platform the employee will be operating. This includes thoroughly reading the operator’s manual and safety signs on the machine, as well as understanding the function and location of all safety devices and controls before beginning operation.

 

Be sure to follow these simple, safe operating tips to keep aerial work platforms performing productively day in and day out, from one EWP to another.

 

Need EWP training? BOOK HERE 

 

 

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