OSHA Guidelines for Operating Bucket Trucks
Bucket truck safety hinges on caution and planning. OSHA has set strict guidelines to operate bucket trucks safely in a work environment. With an averge of 26 deaths per year related to improper bucket truck use, these OSHA requirements are not only mandatory, they could mean the difference between life and death. Many of the fatalities are related to electrocution, falls, and bucket truck tip overs. Every accident could have been avoided given the right amount of caution. Below are some suggestions to follow as well as laws that will make you safer as you operate at heights or near energized lines.
OSHA's main requirements are listed as:
-only trained persons should be working in the aerial lift
-workers should stand firmly on the floor of the basket
-belting off to another structure or pole is strongly prohibited as well as dangerous
-wearing a lanyard or body belt that is attached to the basket is mandatory
-exceeding load and weight limits are a strict violation of rules
-do not move the truck while a person is in the basket
-use wheel chocks when operating the lift on an incline
-only use lower controls in an emergency or unless requested by the operator in the basket
-the controls for the boom must be clear and easy to read
-be sure to properly cradle the boom of the truck before traveling
For added safety be sure to properly inspect the aerial lift truck check warning systems, hoses, welds, fuel, tires, boom pins and fasteners, lights, outriggers, and controls.
Also, be sure to have all of your safety equipment.Safety equipment ranges from a first aid kit to fire extinguisher to traffic cones. Utility trucks also tend to have hazardous liquids with them. So, be very careful when you open your tool boxes as these liquids could cause serious damage.
There are several so-called "manuals" for OSHA safety practices online. While many of them have some of the regulations, you should look for the most up-to-date guide. There is a great guide to bucket truck safety according to OSHA standards on I-80 Equipment's site. Don't rely solely on these articles for safety practices. It's best to follow the instructions directly from the source, OSHA and ANSI.
Safety should be your number one concern while operating a bucket truck. These are certainly not all the guidelines or procedures one should take while operating a bucket truck. Visit OSHA for more detailed info. Never operate bucket trucks without the appropriate certifications.
OSHA's main requirements are listed as:
-only trained persons should be working in the aerial lift
-workers should stand firmly on the floor of the basket
-belting off to another structure or pole is strongly prohibited as well as dangerous
-wearing a lanyard or body belt that is attached to the basket is mandatory
-exceeding load and weight limits are a strict violation of rules
-do not move the truck while a person is in the basket
-use wheel chocks when operating the lift on an incline
-only use lower controls in an emergency or unless requested by the operator in the basket
-the controls for the boom must be clear and easy to read
-be sure to properly cradle the boom of the truck before traveling
For added safety be sure to properly inspect the aerial lift truck check warning systems, hoses, welds, fuel, tires, boom pins and fasteners, lights, outriggers, and controls.
Also, be sure to have all of your safety equipment.Safety equipment ranges from a first aid kit to fire extinguisher to traffic cones. Utility trucks also tend to have hazardous liquids with them. So, be very careful when you open your tool boxes as these liquids could cause serious damage.
There are several so-called "manuals" for OSHA safety practices online. While many of them have some of the regulations, you should look for the most up-to-date guide. There is a great guide to bucket truck safety according to OSHA standards on I-80 Equipment's site. Don't rely solely on these articles for safety practices. It's best to follow the instructions directly from the source, OSHA and ANSI.
Safety should be your number one concern while operating a bucket truck. These are certainly not all the guidelines or procedures one should take while operating a bucket truck. Visit OSHA for more detailed info. Never operate bucket trucks without the appropriate certifications.
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