Aerial lift certification; properly documented training improves safety and production
Published in: Arbor Age
Date: 10/1/2003
By: Dubish, Peter
AERIAL LIFT OPERATORS HAVE TO BE PROPERLY TRAINED. THE EMPHASIS ON this requirement seems to be on the rise among OSHA’s inspectors, and they want to see proof. The only real way to prove anyone has been trained is solid documentation. From the government’s standpoint, if it is not on paper, it did not happen.
Training can be handled in-house or outsourced to a professional training company. Either way, good documentation is key. For example, ACRT aerial lift training is a certification program that includes written and skills exams, certificates and wallet-sized cards.
What exactly are employers required to do? Three OSHA standards address the issue of lift operator qualifications. Section 1926.21(b)(2) is general and requires employers to instruct employees in the recognition and avoidance of hazards, and the regulations applying to his/her job. Section 1926.453(b)(2)(ii) states, “only authorized persons shall operate an aerial lift.” Section 1910.67(2)(ii) states the same, but substitutes “authorized” with “trained.”
It is a tragedy how many tree care companies, arborists and tree workers become complacent about aerial lift standards and continually undervalue safety requirements and training.
Whatever the motivation–avoiding OSHA fines, protection from lawsuits, concern for crew safety, or some combination–the importance of training remains the same. And however you choose to approach aerial lift training–whether you tackle it yourself or hire an outside source–you need to invest in your training, be thorough in your training and follow up on your training.
Invest in Your Training
We have all heard that “you get what you pay for.” If you plan to design your own program, give it the time and energy it needs. Misunderstanding can cost you a lot of time and money. Consider the tree service company that hired a displaced logger and told him to go out to the yard and empty the water from the lift basket. In a moment of pure inspiration, he fired up his heavy-duty chain saw and proceeded to plunge cut a drain hole in the floor of the basket. It is doubtful that he had any idea he was in violation of ANSI Z133, 6.2.19. The value of training cannot be overstated, and quality training pays off.
Be Thorough in Your Training
Failure to follow safety rules in detail can be fatal. Take chocking the wheels for example. Using chocks with outriggers might seem like overkill to some, but an arborist lost his life neglecting this detail. The lift truck was parked on a frosty road with a slight incline and one outrigger lifted partly off the ground. As the truck started to slide, the operator tried to escape into the frost-covered tree he was trimming. He could not get a good grip and fell to his death. The truck slid a total of 50 feet before it came to a stop. It is important to keep in mind that details like Z133, 6.2.5 were written because of tragedies like this. A quality training program needs to properly illustrate all aspects of aerial lift safety.
Follow Up On Your Training
No matter how great you might feel about your coverage of those mandatory pre-operational checks, you will not know if it was understood if you do not follow up. Most bad habits die-hard. For example, many operators continue to misuse the boom both knowingly and unknowingly. One operator, after a tree he was felling set back on his saw, pushed it over with his lift’s basket. Unfortunately, a stub in the tree’s top hooked a hydraulic line and both tree and lift truck fell in unison. Maybe he knew better – maybe not. Either way, follow-up training might have helped. Training programs must be ongoing to be effective. A one-time immersion can have lasting effects, but memory will inevitably fade over time. People need reminders and refreshers. Aerial lifts can become so familiar to us that it becomes necessary to remind ourselves how powerful and potentially hazardous they are.
Quality training communicates to employees in numerous ways. It tells them that their employer is concerned about their well being and safety. It shows a commitment to quality in a broad sense, and bolsters their confidence in the company’s future. Good training helps employees feel equipped to do their jobs, which in turn gives them the confidence they need to be productive.
Companies willing to “gun deck” training documentation to avoid what they see as “downtime” are completely missing the point. The increase that a welltrained staff produces more than compensates for the days “lost.”
Good safety training is not just about facts and information, it is about a change of mindset. It is about helping people develop a big-picture perspective on cause and effect on the job. Safety is about cultivating a sense of responsibility for the whole work site and everyone on it. Maintaining the proper measure of respect is critical. Safety is more than just a responsibility–it is an attitude.
Sean Stephens is general manager of training at ACRT, Inc., and Peter Dubish is senior instructor at ACRT, Inc. ACRT can be reached by phone at 800-622-2562.
The focus product for this month’s Vehicles,
Lifts & Machinery product section is Aerial
Lifts. The following is a list of some providers:
Altec Industries 205-408-8041
Baker/Aichi 804-358-0481
Bil-Jax, Inc. 800-527-5333
Ingersoll-Rand 877-472-7263
Sunrise Equipment 800-325-9336
Terex Telelect Inc. 605-882-4000
Time Manufacturing Co. 254-399-2100