Tips for Conducting Regular Man Lift Maintenance Checks

Tips for Conducting Regular Man Lift Maintenance Checks

Meta Description: Proper aerial lift inspection and maintenance ensures safety and productivity. Learn tips for inspecting lifts and keeping maintenance records to comply with ANSI and OSHA standards for proper aerial lift maintenance and equipment reliability.

Proper maintenance is crucial for aerial lifts used in construction and other industries. Regular inspections and repairs help ensure safety, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. This article discusses best practices for maintaining different types of aerial lifts.

It provides checklists for daily inspections, preventive maintenance plans, and other safety tips and guidelines. Following these tips can help businesses efficiently manage their aerial lift equipment and fleets.

Key Takeaways

• Regular maintenance, such as fluid checks, tire pressure inspections, and examining all parts, can increase machine reliability and safety.
• Using genuine OEM parts is important for proper functioning and avoiding potential issues caused by incompatible parts.
• Tracking repair costs over time provides useful insight into equipment performance and total ownership costs. This information can help determine if equipment replacement is needed.

Why Regular Maintenance is Important

Regular maintenance of aerial lifts is crucial for businesses that rely on these machines for various job site operations. Proper upkeep and boom aerial lift maintenance can play a key role in boosting equipment performance and longevity while also improving workplace safety. Some of the main reasons why implementing a scheduled maintenance plan for aerial lifts makes good business sense are:

Increase Equipment Lifespan

Performing routine inspections and repairs helps catch small issues before they become bigger and more expensive problems. This extends the useful life of aerial lifts. Neglecting regular maintenance can cause premature wear of parts, leading to frequent breakdowns.

Unaddressed fluid leaks, loose fittings, and other minor defects ignored in the initial stages may later require comprehensive repairs or even replacement of certain air and components. Proactive maintenance prevents such situations and allows aerial lifts to deliver productive years of service.

Maximize Productivity

Downtime leads to delays in work completion and losses in productivity. Planned maintenance minimizes unexpected breakdowns that cause equipment to sit idle for repairs. It helps maintain smooth operation and ensures aerial lifts are available when needed.

Fewer repairs also mean less disruption to scheduled tasks. Overall, regular servicing in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and industry best practices helps keep aerial lifts and power lines running reliably to maximize uptime.

Types of Maintenance Checks

Regular maintenance checks play a key role in ensuring aerial lifts are safe to operate and perform as intended. Different types of checks should be conducted on the aerial platform at various time intervals to inspect the overall condition, peak performance, and functioning of the equipment.

Daily Visual Inspections

Daily visual inspections are one of the most important maintenance activities. They help catch small issues before they become bigger problems. The operator should perform a visual check of the lift each day prior to using it.

This involves walking around the equipment and checking for fluid leaks, loose or missing parts, cracks, or damages to the structure. Tire pressure and tread wear should also be inspected. Any issues observed during maintenance inspections are documented and addressed.

Weekly Operational Checks

Once a week, a more thorough operational check must be conducted. This involves testing functions like brakes, alarms, lights, and emergency controls to ensure they work as intended. The hydraulic and electrical systems are also examined for signs of trouble. The lift is run through a series of functional tests to verify everything is running smoothly. These checks catch minor glitches that surface with use.

Monthly In-depth Inspections

More rigorous inspections need to be carried out monthly to evaluate the condition of various components closely. This may involve bringing the lift into the workshop. A thorough inspection is performed of the chassis, boom, scissor arms, cables, winches, and other structural parts.

Fasteners and welds are examined for cracks or defects. The inspection also checks for excessive wear of pads, rollers, bearings, sheaves, and other fluids that could impact the safe working load. Lubrication of all moving parts is also attended to.

Annual Maintenance

An annual maintenance is recommended where the lift undergoes a complete overhaul. This includes replacing lubricants and hydraulic fluids after a certain number of hours of operation. Parts that have reached the end of their life are replaced with new ones. Any repairs or alterations are carried out as suggested by the OEM.

What to Check During Maintenance

Proper maintenance is key to ensuring aerial lifts are functioning safely and efficiently. Regular inspections allow any issues to be identified and addressed before they can significantly impact operation, service life, or safety. Some of the most important systems to examine during maintenance are the electrical, hydraulic, and safety mechanisms.

Electrical and Hydraulic Systems

The electrical and hydraulic systems’ power lift functions require close attention. Check fluid levels in hydraulic reservoirs, looking for contamination or leakage that could affect pressure and performance. Inspect the condition and routing of hydraulic hoses to avoid crimping or chafing. Test functions like lift, drive, and controls to ensure smooth operation.

Examine the battery and charging system, ensuring a full charge before use. Inspect wiring harnesses and connections for damage, corrosion, or loose fittings that could impair performance or safety interlocks. These inspections allow any fluid leaks, visible leakages, mechanical faults, or electrical issues to be addressed promptly by qualified technicians.

Structural Components

Inspect structural components for signs of damage, wear, or fatigue. Examine scissor arms, booms, or other moving assembly parts for cracks, deformation, corrosion, or excessive play. Inspect welds and other critical connections for flaws.

Check pins, fasteners, cables, and sheaves for wear. Inspect platforms, baskets, and associated structures for integrity. Left unaddressed, structural issues could compromise the stability and load capacity of the lift.

Tires and Wheels

Tires and wheels are essential for mobility but are often overlooked. Check tires for proper inflation and wear and wheels for damage. Inspect lug nuts for tightness. Uneven wear or underinflation could indicate issues like misalignment. Low tires pose safety risks. Addressing tire and wheel issues avoids downtime on the job.

Finally, check that all controls, gauges, and displays function as intended. Ensure no loose or worn components exist. Inspect control panels, joysticks, and related hardware. Test that functions like lift/lower, drive, and alarms activate correctly. Illegible or inaccurate displays could lead to operational errors. Addressing control and display faults maintains safe and efficient operation.

Tips for Effective Maintenance

Conducting proper maintenance is key to ensuring aerial lifts are safe to operate and reliable to use on work sites. Regular inspections and repairs keep lifts functioning optimally to lift workers and equipment efficiently. Some important maintenance procedures and tips used for effective maintenance include:

Use OEM Parts for Replacement

Using genuine, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts for replacements is vital for lifts to perform as intended. OEM parts are designed and tested specifically for each machine model. Third-party parts may not fit or function the same, potentially leading to issues. Using OEM replacement parts like hydraulic components, electrical systems, and cables helps lifts last longer with fewer mechanical problems.

Thoroughly cleaning aerial lifts, like the scissor lift, scissor lifts themselves, and boom lifts, inside and out, is important maintenance. Cleaning prevents dirt, dust, and debris from causing damage or issues over time. It also promotes hygiene and safety. Operators should regularly vacuum interiors and wash exteriors with the recommended solutions to remove contaminants from places like engines and joints that see heavy use. Clean equipment is better able to withstand wear and tear.

Train Operators on Maintenance

Training operators on the maintenance needs of aerial lifts they use, such as man lifts and aerial work platforms, helps ensure proper upkeep. When operators understand daily inspection routines, scheduled servicing intervals, and how to identify small problems, they can help with general lift care and alert technicians for specialized repairs. Training develops maintenance skills and awareness of each model’s quirks to catch issues early. It leads to safer, more productive lifting.

Outsource Specialized Tasks

Some maintenance tasks require special equipment or expertise. Outsourcing jobs like annual inspections, hydraulic component replacements, and electrical system repairs to a qualified service provider makes sense for many fleets.

Experienced technicians have the tools and knowledge to perform complex repairs efficiently. It allows operators to focus on general cleaning and inspections while preventing major downtime from specialist problems. Outsourcing specialty maintenance supports lift reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions