Page 26 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2017

FALL PROTECTION
Eco-friendly lifts operate quietly, making them a preferred piece of equipment for finish work in schools, hospitals, offices, and other institutions.
ated with one less employee on the job can be significant,” he said.
But what if a job requires more than the 20-foot reach that the farthest-reaching personal portable lift provides? Other op- tions exist, depending on the work to be ac- complished. Answering a number of ques- tions can help building owners or facility managers choose the most appropriate op- tion. For example, what is the nature of the task, and will it require more than one worker? It’s also important to know wheth- er the work will be performed indoors or outside and what materials or tools the lift will be required to hold. What about the working height of the job, and does the ma- chine need to go up steps, through door- ways or other narrow openings, or into an elevator to reach the work site? Finally, what are the conditions of the jobsite? Is the surface uneven? Does it present obstacles to work around?
Using Electric Mast Lifts for Main- tenance, Repairs, and Inspections Depending on answers to these questions, building owners or facility managers can choose among mast-style boom lifts, ar- ticulating boom lifts, compact crawler booms, or scissor lifts to accomplish many of the tasks in and around a facility without requiring much larger boom lifts.
For example, electric mast-style boom lifts use a jib to reach up, over, and around shelving, ductwork, and other obstacles to perform maintenance, repair, and inspec- tion tasks. These machines have a lifting capacity as high as 500 pounds and a plat- form height of more than 32 feet. They are powered by an environmentally friendly electric-drive system and feature non- marking rubber tires ideal for indoor use. In addition, these models are equipped with a 360-degree rotating mast.
Where additional reach is needed, the articulating boom lift provides up-and- over access at heights from about 13 feet to as high as 60 feet. These lifts employ a joint or knuckle that enables the boom to reposition and reach up, over, and around
obstacles. The work platforms on these ma- chines typically carry up to 500 pounds of unrestricted capacity, with some offering a 1,000 pound restricted capacity, to accom- modate multiple workers, tools, and equip- ment. They are available in electric-, gas-, and diesel-powered models, as well as a hybrid model that uses electric and diesel power, making it suitable for work indoors or outside.
Compact Crawler Booms
and Scissor Lifts
Another option—the compact crawler boom—uses non-marking treads and auto- leveling outriggers, making it another good choice for work indoors or out. All mod- els offer an optional Lithium-ion electrical system that does not produce emissions,
increasing its value as an indoor machine. Although larger than true low-level access equipment, a compact crawler boom is compact enough, with some models mea- suring just 2 feet 7 inches across. These dimensions enable the boom to easily fit through most standard commercial door- ways, narrow aisles and hallways, gates, and other tight spaces.
When a task requires a larger platform capacity, the scissor lift may be the lift of choice. Scissor lifts are equipped with ex- tensions that typically range from 36 to 50 inches in length for additional work space and the ability to work above an obstacle. With a working height of 21 to 46 feet, which goes beyond that of typical low-level access equipment, and a lift capacity up to 1,000 pounds, these machines are still com-
20 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL 2017
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