Safety steps for operating a lifting platform
A lifting platform is an important and safe piece of equipment for working at heights, whether indoors or outdoors. It was developed to increase employee protection and boost productivity. However, there are specific steps that must be followed to ensure safety when operating a lifting platform.
To ensure your company enjoys the benefits of this item and ensures it performs its intended function, we’ve put together this content with 9 essential steps to ensure your staff are protected during use. Read on!
Avoid contact with other equipment:
Other equipment is also used during work at height, such as cranes, ladders, scaffolding, and load-handling accessories. It is essential that these devices do not come into physical contact with the lifting platform, as any knocks or bumps can cause the worker to lose their balance, compromising their safety and the quality of their work. Click here for IPAF course in UAE
Analyze the Risks before Operation:
Before using the elevating platform, assess all potential risks in the location where the activities will be performed. This assessment is called a Risk Analysis (RA), and it considers all the typical hazards of the activities performed in the workplace. Factors to be considered can be both internal and external. Here are some examples:
Puddles: These make the ground slippery, causing the worker or the equipment to slip.
Potholes: The person operating the platform must be careful not to drive over pot holes.
Fragile flooring: Ensure that the floor can support the weight of the equipment in any situation.
- Tilts: can tip the equipment over, increasing the risk of accidents;
- Sand: can also make the floor slippery and, consequently, cause accidents;
- Weather conditions: Check the weather to avoid the possibility of operating during rain, strong winds, and other adverse weather conditions;
- Live power lines: Ensure there are no electrical wires that could come into contact with the equipment or employees;
- Traffic and circulation: Check for heavy traffic of people, cars, and motorcycles. It is important to maintain signage and isolation in the workplace.
- If any other risk is identified, take appropriate measures to eliminate it or minimize its effects, as ignoring it can cause significant harm to the company, employees, and third parties.
Check the machine is working properly:
As with any other equipment, it’s necessary to check that the lifting platform is in perfect working order before any operation. Keep in mind that this must be done even if the rental equipment is high-quality.
Neglecting this step can cause problems to arise during operation, necessitating interruptions to correct the problem. This leaves employees idle while waiting for the issue to be resolved, jeopardizing the productivity of the entire business, and putting the lives of operators at risk.
All aspects of the lifting platform should be analyzed, such as the physical condition of the tires, the structure, the hydraulics, and the vertical and horizontal movement (in the case of telescopic or articulated boom platforms).
Invest in safety signage:
Using safety signage is a mandatory measure for all companies that use lifting platforms. Their function is to ensure everyone present is aware of the equipment’s use. Use signage, delimit areas for personnel movement, and ensure that nearby people move away.
Check the Weather Conditions:
Before performing activities outdoors, it’s essential to study the current weather conditions. Rain, lightning, strong winds, and dust increase the chances of workers slipping and falling, among other accidents. Therefore, plan your activities to avoid falling on rainy or windy days.
Use PPE:
Falling objects or even blows can cause significant injuries to operators. To minimize the damage from these accidents, it’s important to ensure that all employees are wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Some examples of PPE used in this type of work are:
- Helmet with chin strap;
- Safety glasses;
- Boots;
- Safety belt with double lanyard;
- Safety gloves;
- Fall arresters.
Be aware of falling objects:
Falling materials and tools can hit people below the lifting platform. Avoiding these problems is the company’s responsibility, so use appropriate signage, ensure that workers are carrying only the necessary items, and that they are instructed to avoid falls.
Train Employees
Since employees are the ones who perform the activities in the field, they must be thoroughly trained in using the lifting platform and PPE, as well as assessing the condition of the equipment and implementing the other steps explained.
Employees should also be aware of the safety standards — Occupational Health and Safety in the Construction Industry — Working at Height —, as they cover all the minimum protection requirements during activities at height.
In practice, personnel must undergo specialised, nationally certified training focused on safety development and improvement, working at heights, and other topics. It’s important that they follow NR 18 and standards and possess both theoretical and practical knowledge.
If you want to maximize safety when operating a mobile elevating work platform, invest in equipment from a company with extensive experience and market credibility to ensure high-quality equipment. Specialized training also helps minimize risks, but it’s essential to choose a training program with national coverage, certified, and IPAF award-winning, as well as dedicated and specialized professionals.
