Dangers with Bucket Trucks
Working in or around bucket trucks is dangerous work. Not taking the right safety precautions can result in injury or even death. Working at heights is common place when doing jobs in lift trucks. Most of today's utilities like electricity, cable, internet are installed, repaired, and distributed with the assistance of line trucks / aerial lift trucks.
There are lots of things that can and do go wrong when working in or around bucket lift trucks. The average bucket has a maximum working height of 40 to 60 feet and even the slightest mishap can result in injury or death..
There are lots of things that can and do go wrong when working in or around bucket lift trucks. The average bucket has a maximum working height of 40 to 60 feet and even the slightest mishap can result in injury or death..
- Falling Out of the Bucket – One of the most obvious dangers when working in bucket trucks is falling out. Even though workers are situated inside the bucket during operation, it is possible that workers can lose their balance and fall, especially when the lift is moving into position. All too often, the cause of fall is sheer carelessness. Proper use of the lanyard and safety harnesses will eliminate this risk drastically. Tools and equipment improperly placed at the bottom of the bucket can cause workers to trip and lose their balance. In some cases, workers may try to extend the reach of the lift by using ladders and planks resulting in a fall.
- Electrocution – Electrocution is another significant danger when working near bucket trucks. Ironically, most incidents that involve electrocution are rarely with utility workers. Typically, the highest numbers of employees who are electrocuted are people using there truck to trim trees and are inexperienced or careless. Workers who are electrocuted are usually those who ignore a very crucial safety guideline – checking the area for safety hazards, including overhead electrical lines.
- Traffic Accidents – Another danger of operating a bucket truck is collision with nearby traffic. Many aerial jobs are performed next to busy roads. In these cases, the vehicle has to occupy a portion of the road to position the equipment. Even though there are safety guidelines for this type of operation, such as installing visible road signs, some employees disregard the need to install proper warning devices. They become hidden to oncoming traffic and vulnerable to a bad accident.
- Tip Overs – Tip overs are also a potential danger when using a bucket truck. The vehicle is equipped with features that prevent tipping, such as outriggers that serve as the vehicle’s foundation during the lift operation and a tilt meter that is used to measure the truck’s inclination perpendicular to the operating surface. The misuse and failure to implement the vehicle’s tilt protection features could cause the truck to tip over. The most common causes of tipping over are: moving the vehicle while the lift is extended; overloading the bucket; and deploying the lift on a steep slope.