Work at heights is common on construction sites, but it's not the only industry where workers have to climb to perform essential construction, repair, or cleaning tasks. Oil, gas, aviation, entertainment, telecommunications, electrical transmission, and many other industries also have such stringent, integral requirements. They all need reliable access methods that allow workers to operate at heights beyond their reach. No matter which industry you are in, you need safe, reliable equipment that lets your workers perform their jobs at heights smoothly and safely. Earlier, scaffolding was the only option. Today, you can replace it with more reliable, sturdier aerial work platforms, and there are many reasons to adopt this approach.
To ensure safety
When you or your team members use ladders and scaffolding to perform a task at height, the risk of falling remains high. Scaffolds are unreliable during windy conditions, which can be difficult to avoid at heights. As such, work-related falls are already common, leading to several fatal deaths every year. Even with necessary safety checks and supervision, you cannot eliminate the risk of falls with scaffolding. But boom lifts may offer huge relief in this area, as they are designed to remain stable within their rated wind limits, typically up to 28 mph. Of course, the lifting solution must meet the height requirement and other working conditions. Nevertheless, the strong baskets on the boom, safety features, and other provisions on the boom lifts eliminate most unnecessary risks. As a result, professionals can focus on their work and complete it on time.
To increase efficiency
For service providers, time is money. Building and dismantling scaffolding is not easy. It is time-consuming. You can spend weeks erecting and dismantling it. To do this, workers must remain at precarious heights for extended periods, which increases their risk of falls. While this adds to the cost, you are also paying labor fees and rental fees for the materials used to construct the scaffolding. By renting boom lifts, you can address this area efficiently. Most aerial lifts can be installed or removed from the site in 15 minutes, giving your team more hours to complete a job.
The boom lifts can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to address accessibility concerns. Since these lifts occupy a smaller area than an average scaffolding structure, working even in high-traffic zones is easier. You don't have to worry about extending permits, as boom lifts allow the work to be completed on time, even with traffic.
For convenience
Setting up or tearing down scaffolds is a complicated process. Workers have to manage a complex structure even before the actual work starts. Hence, things already move at a slower pace. With boom lifts, workers don’t need to wait long. They can adjust the truck-mounted boom lift in about 15 minutes, carry their tools in the baskets, get ready for elevation with essential safety gear, and begin work. They don’t have to deal with the physical exhaustion caused by climbing. Plus, they feel safer in the basket. As a result, it becomes easier for them to start working on the assigned task immediately after reaching the desired height.
Of course, boom lifts—or any other equipment—cannot be considered fully safe. Operators must be well-trained and follow all safety protocols to use the lift properly. Nevertheless, boom lifts are available in many sizes to meet different height and reach requirements. You can check available options at https://www.bladeplatforms.com/.
