Aerial Lifts

In the world of construction and maintenance, where the human scale just isn't big enough, it can sometimes be difficult to reach things that need to be repaired. When human creations are too big for us to easily access, we have to rely on other tools to get us where we need to go. And when it comes to that, the best solution is a powered aerial lift.

Aerial Lifts Overview
There are several kinds of aerial lifts, each suited for different purposes. Different types of aerial lifts work different ways, in order to allow access to the vast variety of situations and conditions the artificial world of power lines, buildings, and structural framework offers. To get the best aerial lift, think about the type of job you will be doing.

One type of aerial lift is the boom lift. The simple boom lift uses a single hydraulic arm to lift a platform to whichever level you choose. This sort of lift can be used for a number of applications, including simple things like tree trimming or checking power lines, or just accessing mid level building points. Keep in mind though that the single arm boom lift has only so much range due to the fact that, when not raised, the arm is horizontal – so the longer the reach, the longer the vehicle. This, needless to say, limits the maximum reach of such a lift.

A more advanced model of the boom lift is the articulated boom lift. The articulated boom lift solves the problem of arm length by articulating the arm – meaning by putting joints into it, in other words. You’ve probably seen articulated boom lifts before, repairing power lines or performing other similar tasks. There are a few different varieties of articulated boom lifts, capable of performing a number of different tricks to reach greater and greater heights.

Varieties of Articulated Boom Lifts
The standard articulated boom lift consists of a single jointed arm. The advantage of such an arm is twofold. First, a single joint articulated boom lift can reach twice as high as a normal boom lift, due to the fact that it can store double the length of arm on the same vehicle bed. The second feature, which makes it especially popular in crowded and difficult to reach settings, is that the second arm can be extended horizontally as well as vertically - meaning that the platform arm can be extended over large obstacles to reach even more hard-to-reach places than the average aerial lift.

Electrical boom lifts are more popular in indoor settings like warehouses and factory floors. Because they can be charged from a standard 110 volt socket, they are easy to use and cheap to run indoors. They can be driven at full elevation to allow for the inspection of crates on a second or third level inside a warehouse, and feature an articulated arm (though not quite as far-reaching or maneuverable as the standard model of articulation) for reaching a maximum of areas.

A mast style articulated boom lift is often the best choice for those truly tight spaces - warehouses with narrow aisles, or consumer store floors, for instance. A mast boom lift works on the principle of a primary telescoping mast for reaching heights. This mast can then be rotated at full extension to allow a full three hundred and sixty degree level of access for the second articulated arm, allowing operators to be lifted out of a cramped space - like an aisle - and then maneuver above the obstacles to more easily carry out their tasks.

Towable boom lifts are more versatile in outdoor conditions, especially places where it may be difficult or impossible to drive the small-chassis standard aerial lifts. Built on a trailer with an extendable support base, these types of lifts can be towed behind a pickup or other towing vehicle to a work site and then locked down for operation. At that point, the towable boom lift operates exactly like a standard articulated boom lift. This kind of lift is the perfect solution for places like construction sites, where the ground you have to work on may be nothing more than dirt or mud.
Scissor lifts are especially useful in the sort of situation where you don't have the room it takes to extend the long arm or arms of a boom lift or articulated boom lift. A scissor lift works conveniently enough on the same principle of a pair of scissors - a structure of crossing, interlocking parts contracts to extend a platform straight up. The upside of a scissor lift is that it never takes more horizontal space than the base. The base can also be lighter than that of a boom lift, since it's center of gravity is directly over the base and it doesn't have to compensate for the lever action of a boom lift.

The downside to using a scissor lift is that because of the more complex structure required, they are often not able to reach as high as the simpler boom lift designs. That's not to say they can't reach many high places, however. Some scissor lifts can reach as high as forty or fifty feet, which is plenty for most situations.

With a scissor lift, the platform can never go anywhere but directly over it's base. This can be better for some situations and worse for others. If you need to get up and into something, like a tree for trimming or a power line for repair work, for instance, a boom lift is probably going to be your best option. If, on the other hand, you need to ascend a vertical surface like the side of a building for paint work or external surface maintenance, a scissor lift will probably be the better option. It all depends on exactly what you're looking for in a particular job.

Getting Aerial Lift Equipment
When you actually need an aerial lift for construction, repair, or maintenance purposes, you're going to have to know how to get a hold of one. When that time arrives, it's time to start thinking about exactly what you need. How often will you be using the aerial lift, and for what purposes? If you work on a lot of rural construction sites, for instance, you might want to get a trailer mounted articulated boom lift for basing on soft ground or dirt and reaching those higher areas inaccessible through normal means. If, on the other hand, you run an exterior and siding application business and are interested in primarily reaching the full surface of two and three story buildings, a scissor lift is exactly what you need.

You're also going to have to decide just how long you need the lift. If you're only going to need it for a few days, your best choice is probably to find a rental service in your area. This will be the main choice for most people. If you're trimming a tree, for example, renting would be the most logical way to temporarily acquire a good aerial lift, and you'd be better off searching for rental services in your area. If, on the other hand, you run a business where the need to reach high places arises fairly often, you may want to go ahead and foot the bill to invest in a good aerial lift. Consider your options and decide whether buying or renting would be the most cost effective for your particular case.

Renting and Buying an Aerial Lift
There are several places you can turn to when you're looking to rent an aerial lift, whether that be an articulated boom lift, a scissor lift, or any other form of lifting heavy machinery. You can simply look in your local yellow pages for equipment rental or the like. Another powerful tool in the modern technological toolbox is the Internet. The entire world is networked these days - simply by using a search tool such as Google Maps, you can type in a few terms and get a great map to a location. "Aerial lift rental Chicago," for instance, will bring up a map (in Google Maps) that shows you a listing with phone numbers, addresses, and printable directions from your home or business. You can do this to find information for any aerial lift rental agency near your home.

Another way to find good aerial lift agencies is by word-of-mouth, especially if you tend to work with a lot of construction or maintenance people who would know the locations of such rental agencies. Ask around, and you may just find the best quality for the price in your area. Be sure to ask for the quality of the lifts the company has.
The cost you'll have to pay varies depending on whom you rent from and what sort of equipment you're renting, of course. Generally, to get rental prices you're going to have to call or contact the rental service. However, you can ask about competitive bargains and deals said rental stores may offer. For instance, most rental services know that aerial lifts are most often requested by businessmen and other entrepreneurs who may need an aerial lift for weeks or even months until the job they're working on is complete. Some offer a basic daily rate for a specific piece of equipment which decreases the longer the renter rents the vehicle - for the first week, for instance, an aerial lift might cost a set amount. After that week, the daily rate may drop to a tenth or so of the original rate, and after a month, sometimes as much as a thirtieth.
An aerial lift, contrary to popular belief, may not be terribly expensive - though "terribly expensive" is a term that can carry a lot of ambiguity depending on the size of your pocketbook. You can expect to pay as much for a good new aerial lift as you might for a good new car. For smaller models, you can often pay five to ten thousand dollars. A Simon T-40 forty six foot boom lift, for example, might cost around ten thousand if you can find the right dealer.

Finding the dealer is all part of the game, of course. If you check your local yellow pages, you should be able to find a listing of equipment retailers. Again, the internet can be an extremely helpful tool in this regard, making it quite easy simply to type in a search term list, like "aerial lift dealer," and the name of your town or city and instantly have access to a full map and listing of dealers in your area.
If you're going to operate an aerial lift yourself, and you don't have anyone experienced in the operation of one, make sure you read the instructions carefully and know all of the information pertaining to safety and smooth operation. An aerial lift, whether articulated boom or scissor style, is not a fundamentally complex piece of machinery, but it is a very powerful and potentially destructive one. There's nothing worse than renting a good articulated boom lift and then running the basket through the side of a house, thus ruining both fine engineering achievements.
One aspect of aerial lift operation that cannot be emphasized enough, as just pointed out, is safety. If you're not safe, you're not anything - whenever you're working with powerful machinery, aerial lift or otherwise, you have to be sure to know what you're doing and know how to responsibly operate whatever it is you're using. If you're not comfortable operating your new aerial lift, have your rental agent or seller show you exactly how the machine works. Aerial lifts, like other heavy machinery, are large, powerful, and must be used safely and with great responsibility. A little bit of carelessness could mean the loss of property, health, or even possibly life, so make sure you know exactly what you're doing before you step up to the operating controls. Generally, if you're safe, know where to look, and know your market, you can get the best possible price for the specific task you need to complete. Take a look at your options and decide for yourself just how high you want to get.

Aerial Lift Safety
About 26 construction workers die each year from using aerial lifts. More than half of the deaths involve boom-supported lifts, such as bucket trucks and cherry pickers; most of the other deaths involve scissor lifts. Electrocutions, falls, and tip-overs cause most of the deaths. Other causes include being caught between the lift bucket or guardrail and object (such as steel beams or joists) and being struck by falling objects. (A worker can also be catapulted out of a bucket, if the boom or bucket is struck by something.) Most of the workers killed are electrical workers, laborers, painters, ironworkers, or carpenters.
Before Operating an Aerial Lift Check operating and emergency controls, safety devices (such as, outriggers and guardrails), personal fall protection gear, wheels and tires, and other items specified by the manufacturer. Look for possible leaks (air, hydraulic fluid, and fuel-system) and loose or missing parts. Check where the lift will be used. Look for a level surface that won’t shift. Check the slope of the ground or floor; do not work on steep slopes that exceed slope limits listed by the manufacturer. Look for hazards, such as, holes, drop-offs, bumps, and debris, and overhead power lines and other obstructions. Set outriggers, brakes, and wheel chocks – even if you’re working on a level slope.
Your employer should:
• Provide required manuals to operators and maintenance mechanics.
• Be sure operators and mechanics are trained by a qualified person experienced with the model of aerial lift.
Using An Aerial Lift
• Always close lift platform chains or doors.
• Stand on the floor of the bucket or lift platform. Do not climb on or lean over guardrails.
• Do not exceed manufacturer’s load-capacity limits (including the weight of such things as bucket liners and tools).
• If working near traffic, set up work-zone warnings, like cones and signs.
To prevent electrocutions:
• Non-electrical workers must stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
• Electrical workers must de-energize/insulate power lines or use proper personal protective equipment and tools.
• Insulated buckets protect from electrocution due to electric current passing through you and the boom to ground. An insulated bucket does not protect if there’s another path to ground – for instance, if you touch another wire.
To prevent falls: To help keep workers inside guardrails or in buckets, OSHA requires either a full-body harness or a positioning device on bucket trucks or boom-supported lifts. OSHA accepts a positioning device (belt) with a short lanyard, if there is an anchorage inside the bucket.
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