26.10.2018

Partial effort

A reader in Scotland has sent us an example of a truck mounted lift user, who has clearly made some efforts to improve safety but missed other critical issues. But is it a Death Wish?

In our correspondent’s own words: “Seen this morning on Dumbarton Road near Clydebank. Yes he does have cones next to his truck, but they are right next to it and the knuckle at the back is in line if not slightly protruding over, the operator also does not have a harness on, with all that has happened in Scotland recently surely this is definitely a death wish, this is an extremely busy road with both buses and arctics.”
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Cones present but then the operator has no harness, and what about pedestrians?

The 7.5 tonne Ascendant does have tail swing over the fully retracted outriggers – it is though around 400mm, given that the cones are perhaps almost 300mm wide the protrusion into the street is such that a passing truck would have to almost touch the cones to catch the protruding ‘knuckle’.

The harness is another thing altogether. Any time you set the outriggers up on the pavement/sidewalk there is a risk, that it finds a void, such as a drain etc… It also looks as though the pedestrian route is blocked or seriously restricted?

A Death Wish though? Given the lack of a harness and the other factors... just about.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.