07.10.2016

Drive through death wish?

Spotted by a reader in Iver, UK, a boom lift working over an open road, allowing traffic to pass under its boom.

The lift, a 46ft Haulotte HA16PX articulated boom lift is owned by rental company Kimberly Access, in the photo a truck passes underneath the horizontal boom, with what appears to be little clearance. There appears to be no traffic cones or any attempt to control traffic, the man in the platform is at least wearing a harness and may even have his lanyard attached to an anchor on the platform floor.
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The chances of a passing vehicle clipping the platform and causing a catapult effect are high

In the words of our correspondent: "Where is the traffic control? 'Oh I'll just let them drive under the boom and crack on with my job then, what could possibly go wrong?' It's bad enough, but this was not far from where a tragic boom accident that happened a few years ago."

We are not sure about this one, there has been some retouching of the drivers face, and the man in the platform seems almost unreal, it just smells a little odd! We wondered if it might have been set up – possibly for a training video or photographs? Or for other reasons? What do you think?

If it is real then definitely one for our Death Wish series and a prime illustration of how not to do things.

Have a safe weekend.

UPDATE
As we expected all was not as it at first seemed with this photograph, although it did actually occur. The work was apparently being carried out on a Saturday afternoon around 15:00 on a trading estate that was just about shut down.
The estate was using the platform to carry out some maintenance while there was no traffic about. What the photographer apparently did not show was a man - who called us - standing by the roadside in a hi-viz jacket - just in case any traffic did materialise. And sure enough the truck came along.
It was apparently stopped and then guided slowly under the boom with our caller ensuring that there was plenty of clearance.

He assured us that the operator was fully qualified, and his lanyard was attached. The job was relatively quick and that he never left his post while the lift was in position. What he was surprised at was who managed to take the photograph.

That's it - just to state the facts.

But do not do this at home and have a safe weekend