How Do I Choose a Boom Lift – A Step-By-Step Guide

How Do I Choose a Boom Lift – A Step-By-Step Guide

Meta Description: Learn how to choose a boom lift for safe & efficient elevated work. Consider factors like height, terrain, safety features & rental vs purchase options.

Choosing the right boom lift ensures safe and productive work at heights. This article provides a comprehensive guide to evaluating all relevant factors for selecting the best aerial work platform for any job site or application.

Key considerations like platform height and reach, load capacity, safety features, terrain, and operator training needs will be examined. Whether renting or buying, this breakdown covers all the essential elements to make an informed choice.

Key Takeaways

• Consider your job site needs and conditions like required working height, reach, and load capacity.
• Evaluate the intended environment as lift features vary for indoor versus outdoor use on level versus uneven terrain.
• Understand the options of articulating, telescopic, scissor, and hybrid boom lifts and their unique applications.
• The top priorities should be safety, fall protection, emergency controls, and operator training certification.
• Determine if a rental or purchase best fits your budget and the frequency of needed long-term use.
• Proper maintenance and service support help maximize the up-time of aerial work platforms.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Boom Lift

When selecting an aerial work platform, consider your specific job site needs and conditions carefully. Properly evaluating critical criteria will ensure you choose the right equipment for safe and efficient operations.

1. Platform Height and Reach Requirements

Two critical specifications are the maximum platform height and horizontal reach needed. Determine the working height required to access all areas of your work site for tasks like electrical work, tree trimming, or working on power lines. The height capacity depends on the specific job performed and any overhead obstacles.

Equally important is assessing the horizontal outreach required for the boom lift to access all parts of the work area. Boom lifts specify their working height, but the reach will vary depending on the model type. Articulating and telescopic boom lifts typically have greater reach compared to scissor lifts.

Consider any confined spaces or if work will involve direct access through openings where extended reach could be advantageous.

2. Load Capacity Needs

The load capacity or weight capacity of the boom lift is an essential consideration. This refers to the maximum total weight the platform can safely support, including personnel and equipment. The number of workers, tools, and materials used on the platform will determine the required weight capacity.

Heavier loads may require lifts with higher weight capacities to ensure stability, especially on uneven outdoor job sites. Telescopic boom lifts and rough terrain scissor lifts often have greater load capacities suitable for supporting heavier payloads.

3. Indoor vs Outdoor Environment

Whether the boom lift will be used indoors or outdoors is an essential factor to consider. Electric scissor lifts are well-suited for indoor use as they are quieter and emit zero emissions, making them suitable for indoor areas.

However, diesel or hybrid-powered aerial lifts with four-wheel drive can provide better stability and maneuverability for outdoor work on uneven terrain at job sites.

Features like oscillating axles and foam-filled tires help the equipment stay level on unstable ground. The power source and built-in features must match the intended work environment and conditions.

Types of Boom Lifts

Here are common types of boom lifts to consider when choosing the right aerial lift or scissor lift for your job.

• Articulating Boom Lifts: These aerial work platforms have multiple bendable joints that allow them to maneuver around obstacles with precise positioning. Articulating booms can access confined spaces and areas that other types cannot. They are well-suited for tree trimming and electrical work.
• Telescopic Boom Lifts: Featuring a straight, extendable boom arm, telescopic boom lifts provide height and reach but may not be as versatile in tight spaces as articulating models. They are commonly used for outdoor projects on power lines and construction job sites requiring a more excellent horizontal range.
• Hybrid Boom Lifts: Hybrid boom lifts combine electric and diesel power sources and can be used for indoor and outdoor applications with reduced emissions. Integrated features like four-wheel drive provide stability on uneven terrain for heavy loads and equipment at work sites.
• Scissor Boom Lifts: These vertical mast lifts use a scissor-like mechanism rather than a horizontal boom. While taking up less space, scissor lifts have less reach than articulating or telescopic models. Rough terrain scissor lifts are well-suited to outdoor work with better traction for unstable ground conditions.

The type of boom lift and platform design should match the specific access needs and work environment to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations at elevated heights on worksites.

Safety Features to Look For In a Boom Lift

Choosing a boom lift with the proper safety equipment is essential to protect operators when working at heights. All aerial work platforms should meet relevant safety standards and regulations.

Fall Protection Equipment

Ensure the boom lift has fall arrest anchors and safety harness attachment points for operators to securely attach personal fall arrest systems. Fall protection gear such as railings, gates, and harnesses should be compatible with the aerial lift’s platform design. Scissor lifts and articulating booms often feature built-in guard rails and adjustable railings to prevent falls.

Emergency Controls

Controls that allow for quick stopping in case of emergencies are essential. Look for boom lifts equipped with functions like emergency stop buttons, backup alarms, and warning lights for high visibility.

The Telescopic boom lift commonly has non-marking tires and outriggers or foam-filled tires for stability. These features help secure the elevated work platform on uneven job sites in case of sudden stops.

Proper fall protection and emergency controls provide extra safety for operators when working at heights on aerial lifts. Prioritizing safety gear ensures code compliance and protects workers.

Choosing Between Rental and Purchase

Whether to rent or purchase an aerial lift requires weighing several essential factors.

Cost Considerations

Evaluating the total costs, including rental fees, delivery, maintenance, and insurance, is essential. For infrequent or short-term jobs, renting equipment may cut costs versus the long-term investment of outright purchase.

However, if a lift is needed regularly on multiple job sites and work sites, ownership could prove more cost-effective over time.

Frequency of Usage

The planned frequency and duration of usage should also impact the rental versus purchase decision. Equipment used only occasionally may not justify purchase. However, if lifts are a long-term need for electrical work or other tasks, the ongoing rental fees could exceed the initial purchase price with more frequent usage.

Choosing the right option involves balancing the budget and anticipated workflow. Renting provides flexibility for temporary needs, while ownership may better suit consistent, year-round usage applications.

Evaluating Terrain and Jobsite Conditions

The surface and stability of the work environment should be an essential consideration.

Indoor or Outdoor Surface

Whether the boom lift will be used indoors or outdoors affects equipment choice. Indoor surfaces are often level floors suitable for scissor lifts or smaller electric models.

However, outdoor projects and job sites may involve uneven terrain requiring lifts with features like oscillating axles or four-wheel drive for improved traction and stability on unstable ground.

Ground Stability

Assessing the ground stability and evenness of the terrain is also critical. Rough terrain scissor lifts and scissor lift platforms with foam-filled tires can ensure the aerial equipment stays level on surfaces like construction sites.

Outriggers or wider stances support lifts and elevated platforms working on soft or sloping ground at outdoor worksites to prevent tipping.

Accounting for the type of indoor or outdoor surface and the stability and consistency of the terrain is necessary for choosing a boom lift suited to the job site conditions. This can help avoid downtime, safety incidents, and costly repairs from equipment operating in unfit environments.

Operator Training and Certification Needs

Ensuring operators receive proper training in the safe operation of electric lifts is vital. Many local regulations and job sites require certification for elevated work platform operation. Manufacturers and rental companies can provide training tailored to the specific models.

Certification classes cover safety procedures, emergency response, and hands-on practice with the controls.

Operators certified for straight boom lifts may need additional training for operating articulating or telescopic booms with their unique motion ranges. Proper training reduces risks and protects workers at heights.

Maintenance and Service Support

• Consider the availability of maintenance and service support from the manufacturer or equipment dealer.
• Routine maintenance is needed to keep an articulating boom lift functioning safely and minimize downtime from mechanical issues.
• Service contracts can provide scheduled inspections, repairs, and preventative maintenance to catch minor problems before they become more prominent, more expensive repairs.
• Access to OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts is essential for repairs and replacements.
• Choosing a brand with local dealer support allows for convenient maintenance, especially for emergency repairs on large job sites.
• Dealers offering a range of training, parts, and maintenance plans can provide complete lifecycle support for boom lifts.

Proper maintenance and service availability help ensure lifts have long operational lifespans and reliable performance at work sites for tasks like electrical work, tree trimming, or construction.