Boom lift manufacturers offer a great product that lets you move heavy items in the work place. Unfortunately, aerial booms cause plenty of safety problems just because they are capable of lifting such heavy objects into the air. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires safety training for anyone who operates industrial boom lifts.

You can receive aerial boom lift education and training for yourself and your employees from a number of sources. Quite often these business partners offer training:

1. Aerial lift manufacturers. Check to see if they offer a training package when you purchase their machines.

2. Boom lift rentals. The rental agency should offer at least basic safety guidelines, and should be able to offer a local training option to you.

3. Anywhere else you can find industrial boom lifts. Whether you are looking for used boom lifts for sale or new models from a boom lift distributor, the vendor should be able to provide you with a list of local training venues.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Receive online aerial boom lift training

This option is quick and relatively inexpensive. It does not provide hands-on training, however, and this can be a drawback if your workers are new to industrial boom lifts and their operation. By all means participate in on-line training if you just need a refresher course or you need your OSHA certificate renewed.

I recommend: You can get online certification to operate an aerial boom lift from CertifyMeOnline.net. The classes can be set up for individuals or for your entire aerial boom crew. Receive online training in industrial boom lift safety from Distance-Education.org.

Hire on-site aerial boom lift education and training for your crew

If you need to train a large number of workers at one time, this may be the most cost-efficient way to go. Find a company with the proper credentials to come to your place of business to do the training. With on-site training, you can use your own new or used aerial lift trucks, so you know your employees will learn to use the right equipment.

I recommend: The Crane Inspection Certification Bureau offers on-site training for industrial boom lifts. Weise offers on-site training as well.

Choose one of your staff to be the aerial boom lift trainer

Send that employee to specialized training. No matter what aerial lift manufacturers equipment you use, you can find suitable training. Following a train-the-trainer workshop, your employee should be able to train your other employees, as well as any new hires.

I recommend: Crane Tech offers aerial boom lift training at a variety of locations. You can purchase the aerial boom lift education and training kit from SafetyHead. It allows you to train your staff in aerial booms as part of the new hire process.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your employees stay current in their aerial boom lift education and training. Even after the initial certification, they may need periodic refresher courses to remind them of the importance of boom lift safety.

Industrial boom lifts (also known as cherry pickers) are a type of aerial work platform that typically has a bucket at the end of a hydraulic lifting system. The bucket is designed for a person to stand in and work from. The position of the bucket can be controlled by the person in the bucket, a person on the ground or both.

Boom lifts were originally designed for use in orchards (hence the name "cherry picker") to pick fruit high in the trees. Today's uses include servicing telephone, cable TV and electrical equipment on utility poles; cleaning windows on high-rise buildings; and various applications in mining and construction.

Aerial lift manufacturers primarily make three types of industrial boom lifts. Your choices include:

1. an aerial boom lift mounted on the back of a truck or other large vehicle,

2. an aerial boom mounted on a stand-alone trailer, or

3. a boom lift mounted on a towable trailer chassis.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine your need for an industrial boom lift

Boom lifts can be articulated or telescopic. Some boom lifts are electric, others run on gas or diesel fuel. Some only reach heights of around 20 feet, others extend as high as 80 feet or more. Some have horizontal reach, others only vertical. Some are on wheels and can be pushed around by a single person, others can only be moved by heavy-duty trucks. Your need will determine the type of industrial boom lift that's right for you.

I recommend: As one of the largest aerial lift manufacturers in the country, Genie Industries is your source for articulating, telescopic and trailer-mounted boom lifts. Check out the compact, towable Pro-Tow Series of boom lifts at Gold Coast HiLift. If you're unsure of which aerial boom lift will best suit your needs, Holland High Lift has a page dedicated to helping you figure it out.

Consider your options for buying used or renting an aerial boom lift

There's always a large inventory of used boom lifts, so there's a good chance you can easily find the aerial boom lift you're looking for on the used market. Many companies have boom lifts available for rent as well.

I recommend: Both 1st Lift Company and Aerial Sales have an impressive inventory of new and used boom lifts for sale with pictures and descriptions for each. And if you want to try before you buy or simply need your industrial boom lift for a one-time or occasional use, consider your rental options at RentalSite.

Research the availability of boom lift parts and service from boom lift manufacturers

Whether you buy new or used, there likely will come a time when your aerial boom lift needs replacement parts or service. It's a good idea to be aware of the availability of parts and the proximity of service for your particular boom lift before making the purchase.

I recommend: Alexander Equipment is one of the nation's largest suppliers of aerial boom lifts and replacement parts. Another option is Aerial Lift Service Company, which carries an extensive inventory of boom lift parts and is an authorized service provider for a number of leading boom lift manufacturers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many boom lift manufacturers have their parts, service and operator's manuals available online for easy reference.
• •  It's important that your boom lift operators participate in safety training. Larger aerial boom lift manufacturers such as Genie offer safety training courses online.

An aerial boom lift is the most suitable lift when you want to lift personnel or material to certain heights for a short duration of time. Aerial boom lifts have working platforms or buckets attached to their ends as per the application requirements.

If you want to buy or rent aerial boom lifts you must understand various technical terms that indicate types, specifications and standards associated with these lifts. This guide will explain key terms relating to aerial boom lifts, such as telescopic boom lifts, articulated boom lifts and lift capacity.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Telescopic boom lifts

A telescopic boom lift (also called a straight boom lift) has a telescopic mechanism that can be extended as per the application requirements. These lifts are safer than most, as they have a rugged construction.

I recommend: You can read through the description at GlobalSpec, a technical information resource.

Articulated boom lifts

As the name indicates, an articulated boom lift (also called knuckle boom lift) has a combination of lifting booms to reach the required elevation. These lifts are electrically or gas powered.

I recommend: To learn about the workings of articulated boom lifts, read through the description at Holland High-Lift, a supplier of industrial lifts. You can also read further information at Premier Platforms.

Lift capacity

Lift capacity is the most important specification of a boom lift. Lift capacity is the maximum load or force that can be supported by the boom lift. Before buying or renting a boom lift, you must assess your requirements and evaluate the lift capacity.

I recommend: Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) publishes a glossary of technical terms, including lift capacity.

Metric or imperial dimensions

Metric dimensions are the dimensions of industrial products according to Systeme Internationale (SI) standards. SI standards also specify that load capacity is measured in kilograms and length dimensions are measured in centimeters. Unlike metric dimensions, the imperial measurement system specifies the lifting capacity of a boom lift in pounds, and dimensions in feet or inches.

I recommend: Technology Services (PDF), a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, provides an informative document that explains the relation between the different measurement units.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards

OSHA is a non-profit organization that publishes regulations for the safety of working professionals for various industrial operations. OSHA 1926.453 is the standard that provides guidelines for use of aerial lifts. You must strictly follow these regulations for the safety of your employees.

I recommend: For more information about OSHA 1926.453, read through the description at Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s website.

ASME standards

AMSE International is an association for mechanical engineers that develops and publishes standards for industrial components. ASME standards for boom lifts provide guidelines about their design, construction, installation and operations.

I recommend: You can read through the scope of the different standards such as A17.1, B30.23 and B30.22 at ASME International.

If you own industrial boom lifts, it’s important that everyone on your staff have a thorough understanding of safety procedures associated with aerial booms. This includes office workers and maintenance staff, as well as boom operators. And if you add new aerial booms to your inventory, you should review safety precautions again with your staff.

As you find industrial boom lifts to use, the machinery should have all the safety equipment in place. Aside from getting boom lift training from safety experts, there are a number of options for getting training on specific pieces of equipment. These include:

1. Boom lift manufacturers. They can provide you with specific information for their boom lifts.

2. Companies that have used boom lifts for sale. Be especially wary of any pieces of equipment without safety equipment.

3. Businesses that offer boom lift rentals. Before you leave the premises, the rental equipment business should provide you with a written set of safety instructions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make training in aerial booms safety mandatory

Each member of your staff should have basic training in boom lift safety. It can be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation or lecture. Make sure the training information is part of the packet new hires receive as well.

I recommend: Share the industrial boom lift training information from the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health, or eLCOSH, with your employees as part of your on-site aerial boom training program. The aerial booms safety information from the Society for Protective Coatings may also be useful.

Provide aerial boom lift safety videos

Offer video training to your staff. This can also be part of new hire training. Make sure the videos are current and discuss the particular types of equipment that you own in order to make the training relevant.

I recommend: View the aerial boom lift safety videos available from National Safety Compliance. These videos can help your employees comply with the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety guidelines. Nexstep offers safety training in video format. No matter which aerial lift manufacturers’ equipment you use, the safety videos are appropriate.

Offer live aerial boom lift safety training

The best way to do this is to train a trainer. Send someone reliable from your staff to specialized 'train-the-trainer' classes. This type of training can encompass a number of topics, but make sure workplace safety is one of them. Then, have that employee be responsible for training everyone on your staff in aerial boom lift safety.

I recommend: You can find a complete listing of trainer safety programs for industrial boom lifts from Safety Services Company. Crane Tech also offers train-the-trainer workshops for aerial boom lift safety training.