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813 Construction Worksite Safety
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Aerial Lifts

OSHA rules covering aerial lifts are located at 29 CFR 1926.453. Aerial lifts are vehicle-mounted, boom-supported aerial platforms, such as cherry pickers or bucket trucks, used to access utility lines and other above ground job sites.

Aerial lifts are vehicle-mounted, boom-supported aerial platforms.

The major causes of fatalities are falls, electrocutions, and collapses or tips over.

Aerial lifts have replaced ladders and scaffolding on many job sites due to their mobility and flexibility. They may be made of metal, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, or other materials. They may be powered or manually operated, and are considered to be aerial lifts whether or not they can rotate around a primarily vertical axis.

Employers evaluate employee knowledge, skills and abilities to safely use all heavy equipment including aerial lifts before initial use. They must also ensure workers safely use aerial lifts following the company's safe practice requirements.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-6. What must the employer do if workers use aerial lifts on the job?