Recently, a Beaufort County worker had to be rescued after he fell out of his cherry-picker. The worker, not identified, had dropped about 8 feet last Wednesday afternoon. Fortunately his safety harness kicked in stopping his fall.
According to authorities the worker was quickly rescued and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The workplace accident happened at the corner of Brick Kiln and River Roads where employees with E and R Incorporated were replacing utility poles.
Aerial lifts include boom-supported aerial platforms, such as cherry pickers or bucket trucks and are often a major cause of fatalities from falls, electrocutions, collapses, and tip overs.
Safe Work Practices:
- Ensure that workers who operate aerial lifts are properly trained in the safe use of the equipment.
- Maintain and operate elevating work platforms in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Never override hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical safety devices.
- Never move the equipment with workers in an elevated platform unless this is permitted by the manufacturer.
- Always treat powerlines, wires and other conductors as energized, even if they are down or appear to be insulated.
- Use a body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket to prevent the worker(s) from being ejected or pulled from the basket.
- Set the brakes, and use wheel chocks when on an incline.
- Do not exceed the load limits of the equipment. Allow for the combined weight of the worker, tools, and materials.