31.08.2008

Unsecured boom cuts a wide swathe

The boom of an aerial lift on the back of a low loader, heading down Route 50 near Petersburg New Jersey, on Saturday swung-out over the side and proceeded to wipe out four telegraph poles, several road signs and an electronic message board, before the driver, Kelvin Willis, 47, came to a halt.

The truck had just gone around a curve in the road near the intersection with Route 610 when the boom swung-out, it was clearly not tied down, nor was the lifts slew lock pin engaged.

Thankfully there were no injuries although the damage and disruption was significant.

Vertikal Comment

We all focus on equipment safety while setting up and working, but some of the greatest risks are involved with transporting the equipment, whether it be bridge bashing from an un-stowed loader crane boom, an unsecured slew function or loading and unloading.

Companies are beginning to focus on training for delivery drivers, the problem is that a great deal of this work is subcontracted. Delivery drivers rarely wear harnesses when unloading booms and yet in every day use this is one of the highest risks of being catapulted out of the platform. The also frequently fail to use a winch when using ramps even when they are wet.

If you have not looked at this part of your business it may well be worth doing so, before you have an incident.