Industrial equipment, by its very nature, can be extremely dangerous vehicles and machinery to use. Even smaller units such as bucket trucks can pose considerable risk to operators and bystanders. So it is very important to take every possible safety precaution when using this equipment in daily operations.
Carelessness and operator error make up a large portion of accidents that occur with these trucks; however, the other portion is due to equipment failure. In order to reduce the chances of any avoidable failure from happening, it is critical for companies to closely monitor any necessary safety inspections.
Regulations
When it comes to being certain that the right safety measures are being taken as well as proper maintenance being performed on bucket or aerial lift trucks, the federal government has put numerous safety regulations and requirements into place. Three safety organizations, including the DOT, OSHA and ANSI, have all created inspection processes for bucket trucks to ensure that all requirements are met. These inspections must be carried out on a set schedule and be performed by a DOT-certified industrial equipment inspector in order to be sure that the unit is safe and properly maintained for job operations.
Inspections
Detailed inspections should include three specific tests that are done to thoroughly assess the condition of a unit as well as determine whether any kind of repair is necessary to prevent any future breakdowns.
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Acoustic – First, an acoustic test of the vehicle is done while it is running, with the sound of the engine and any other sounds produced by the truck being recorded by a diagnostics computer. By analyzing these sounds, weaknesses in various systems can be detected.
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Dielectric System – Next, a test of the unit’s dielectric system on insulated trucks used for electric line work is performed. This test determines whether or not the protective insulation on the vehicle and the boom is capable of protecting operators from accidental electrocution while working.
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Physical/Structural Inspection – The last inspection is the physical/structural inspection to be sure that the unit is stable, structurally sound, and all parts of the equipment are in good working order. Specific areas that are examined other than the usual things such as the motor, exhaust, etc., include: upper and lower booms; chassis; elbow structure; outriggers; machine platform; and all other working parts of the unit.
Ideally, any potential problems could be predicted through the use of all of the information discussed above, then repairs arranged before a unit experiences a parts failure and breakdown. In order for this to happen, inspections must be done routinely as scheduled and such inspections must actually be passed. If repairs are recommended, any work should be done before that machine continues to be used on a job. Trying to get a little more use out of a vehicle by sending it out a few more times before repairs are done puts an operator’s safety at a higher than necessary risk. The best option is to keep bucket trucks fully passing all inspections and in top working condition at all times!
