Safety Alert – Loading small aerial equipment using a lift-gate
On 7/18/2018, one of our labor partners’ employees was unloading a small scissor lift using a liftgate, while remaining inside the lift. As the lift was being lowered, it became unstable, and the employee bailed from the lift, resulting in an ankle sprain and a tipped-over lift.
Thankfully, the injury was minor, and the outcome isn’t life threatening, but it had the potential to be just that. Please review the following safety steps, and take this opportunity to ensure your and your co-workers safety!
SAFETY STEPS
- Only ESLE employees should load and unload equipment on combined crews, as we do not have verification of training and proficiency data from our labor partners.
- Make sure the truck is parked on a level ground prior to loading and unloading.
- No one should be inside the lift while it is being lowered or raised.
- If at all possible, remove the controller from lift railing, and operate from outside the lift while it is on the truck or liftgate (except when doing so will create an additional hazard).
- Use wheel chocks or blocks to prevent the lift from moving, if a lift gate has a tie-off point, tie the lift down with a chain before lowering or raising.
- Have a competent person / spotter oversee the loading and unloading of equipment.
- Always keep clear of the equipment as it is being loaded or unloaded!
