Top Precautions to Remember Before Starting Work on Powered Suspended Personnel Platforms

Powered suspended platforms are useful for reaching an inaccessible high spot over the ground, and safely accessing the area to work there in. Know about some of the major precautions to take before the commencement of work on powered platforms.

Proper equipments

Prior to the use of a suspended personnel platform, it is necessary to consider the use of personnel hoists, aerial lifts, stairways, scaffolds and ladders. It is prohibited to use a suspended crane personnel platform unless no other conventional, practical and safe way of access to the elevated worksite is found. In case such options are impossible or riskier in nature due to worksite conditions or structural design, hoisting personnel is allowed from a crane.

Written processes and policies

It is advisable to have a written procedure and policy, to guide workers through the OSHA regulations and requirements on derrick and crane safety. While one personnel is suspended from a crane, applicable crane installation and lifting requirements need to be properly adhered to. The full load weight to be hoisted must not surpass 50% of the load chart capacity of the crane. While sizing the crane necessary for safe access to elevated working area, this needs to be taken into account.

Trial lift

Before actually lifting personnel with the help of elevator hoist, the suspended platform swing stage must be evaluated, a positive locking safety latch needs to be there over the crane hook, a boom angle indicator needs to be made visible readily to the operator and more.

An elevator could be malfunctioning due to worn out sheaves, old operating systems and other issues. Most of the cases of failures of such equipments can be avoided with effective preventative maintenance and inspection. Know about some of the commonest problems in Aerial Work Platform and elevators and the possible solutions to avoid the same.

Power failure

A power quality survey is what elevators need to go through, when there are cases of operating problems or motor failures. Elevators need plenty of power from commercial construction utility systems. Any changes in the voltage of the system can affect the operations of the motor or even lead to potential damage to the Lifting Equipment system. Infrared inspection is the solution.

Worn Out Sheaves

When the sheaves of work access platforms start to wear out, they make the ropes wear out faster, which consequently increase the wearing down on the sheaves. Thus, there is a cycle of damage for both of the important components. Premature failure of hoist rope can be prevented by replacing or re-grooving of sheaves. Make sure that you check the profiles of the groove and verify the fittings between the sheave and the ropes.

Misaligned motor drive

Shaft alignment is vital at the time of coupling an electric motor to some other piece of equipment. When there is improper alignment, the motor bearings can start wearing down. State of the art laser measuring equipment can help detect Shaft misalignment on a mobile elevated platform and avoid the problem.

Author Resource:

Alan advises people about elevator installation platforms, tower maintenance platform, lifting equipments, window cleaning gondola & suspended working platform etc.

Author Resource: Alan has been helping people with his Rubber & Plastic industries services experience in this business for 35 years.