Aerial Lift Training

Boom Lift and Scissor LiftUNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Course Overview• Universal Studios Site Policies• General Regulations• Terms and Operational Overview• Pre-start inspections• Capacity and Equipment Ratings• Safety Procedures• Power Lines• Starting and Operation the Lifts• Work Safety / Operating Rules• Fall Protection

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

• Fall protection height• Working around guests• Working in teams of 2• Special situations while working on rides• Parking lifts • Use of lifts compared to Camera Booms• Pre-start inspections

General Regulations

• The operator is responsible for the lift and its safe operation at all times

• The operator is responsible for performing inspections

• The supervisor is responsible for making sure they are done

• The operator is responsible for making sure anyone in the lift has fall protection

• Full body harness is mandatory

Lift Terms & General Information

• Types of Lifts– Manual vertical aerial platforms– Powered aerial platforms– Boom supported platforms

• General types of lifts– Scissor Lift– Boom Lift– Articulation Boom Lift– Bucket Truck– Aerial Ladder

Maximum Height

• Working height is from ground to top of operators head when fully raised

• Platform height is from ground to the bottom of the platform when fully raised

Capacity Ratings• All lifts have a maximum capacity– Listed on the data plate– Includes all workers, tools and materials spread evenly

over the platform• Boom lift load ratings– A lever machine which uses 2 wheels as fulcurm – The weight is counterbalanced by the weight on the

opposite side of wheels– Boom capacity based on specific load at specific

distance from wheels• Scissor lift capacity– Platform directly over the tires and lifted straight up.

Safety Procedures

• Basic Rules– Check work area for hazards– Maintain specified distances from power lines– Never allow ground personnel near machine– Never allow anyone to pass underneath– Wear approved fall protection– When unattended lower lift and prevent

unauthorized access– Use all available safety and protective devices

Checking Equipment

• Check for missing or unreadable signs• Check for broken, missing or loose parts• Check pivot pins• Check tires• Check welds• Check hydraulic system• Check outriggers, stabilizers or axels• Check upper and lower controls• Check platform, guard rails and gates

Checking Work Area

• Check Ground or Floor• Inspect area to be traveled• Clean up oil spills • Plan your work area approach• Find a level area to lift from• Make sure your overhead area is free from

obstructions or power lines

Operations

• Mount the lift properly– 3 points contact– Face the machine– Make sure shoes are clean– Use handrails to enter machine

• Never use controls as handholds

– Never mount a moving machine– Never climb the elevating assembly– Enter and Exit from the ground only

• Approved entry and exit point when available

Operational Safety

• Know the capacity and never exceed it• Disperse load evenly• Do not carry materials on railings• Do not use lift as a crane• Only the certified operator should operate the

controls• Operate the controls smoothly• Only use controls from operator station

• Never leave platform to an elevated location unless it is approved by the manufacturer

• Never override any safety device or alarm• Never drive up to someone standing in front

of a stationary object• Never position the unit over someone• Only travel in the full down stowed position– Bucket down and bucket forward– Pivot bucket when possible for ease of use

Raise and Lower Safety

• Make sure the machine is on level firm ground before raising

• Use outriggers when available• Check clearance before raising unit• If the unit becomes entangled call for help, do

not try and use controls to disengage• Never attach wires or cables to your unit

Work Safety

• Never use ladders, steps or other devices to provide additional reach

• Never lean or sit on railings• Keep both feet on platform floor• Never belt off to an adjacent structure when

working on the platform• Never use the structure as a welding ground• Only attach lanyards to approved attachment

points not the guardrails

Safe Shutdown and Dismount

• Travel to suitable parking location• Place platform in full down position• Place controls in neutral• Shut off engine• Prevent unauthorized use• Never dismount a moving machine• Use 3 points of contact• Face the machine• Never jump from the machine

Fall Protection

• There are several types of fall protection, this class only discusses personal protection related to aerial lifts

• Overview– Threshold of 6 feet for use of fall protection• Some companies use 4 feet

– Prohibits body belts for fall protection

Personal Fall Arrest System

• A personal fall arrest system means a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these. A body belt cannot be used for fall arrest.

Requirements

• Connectors– Drop forged, press or formed steel– Corrosion resistant with smooth edges

• Dee Rings– Minimum tensile strength of 5000 lbs– Tested to minimum tensile load of 3600 lbs

• Snap Hooks– Load and strength same as Dee Rings– Must be locking type

Cont…• Lanyards– Minimum breaking strength of 5000 LBS– Be attached to each worker separately– Be protected against cuts and abrasions

• Self Retracting lifelines or lanyards– Minimum tensile load of 3000 lbs if they limit the

fall distance to 2 feet– Minimum tensile load of 5000 lbs if they do not

limit the free fall to 2 feet• Ropes and Straps must be made from

synthetic fibers

Cont…• Anchorages

– Free from anchorages that support or suspend platforms– Support at least 5000 lbs per attached worker or they

must be designed and used in a personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least 2 and is used under the supervisions of a qualified person.

• Full Body Harness– Must be used only as a part of a personal fall arrest

system– The attachment point must be in the center of the back

near shoulder level or above the head.– Units with an attachment in the front can only be used

for positioning not fall protection

General Fall Protection Requirements

• Employers must properly rescue a working in the event of a fall or make sure they can raise themselves.– No timeline on how quickly they must respond

• A personal fall arrest system must:– Limit max force to 1800 lbs in a full body harness– Not allow a fall more than 6 feet or come in contact with

a lower level– Bring worker to a complete stop within 3.5 feet– Withstand 2 times the potential impact of a worker

falling 6 feet or the free fall distance allowed by the system whichever is less

Cont…• Be remove from service if used to prevent a

fall• Be inspected by a qualified person or the

manufacture if used to prevent a fall• Not be attached to a guardrail or hoist• If used in a hoist area, be rigged so that the

worker can only travel to the edge of the work surface