Posted By Brenda H We've had an incident where a cherry picker (not sure which part as yet) had a fault with it. The operative was in the bucket part trying to fix it, when it malfunctioned and started lifting. He panicked and jumped out, not even looking how high up he was, and consequently has broken his leg! A couple of things: 1) In normal operation it is usual to wear a safety harness, is this documented anywhere in any guidance notes? (you know Management, always like to know where!) 2) Advice/comments on being in a bucket and it malfunctioning and lifting? Is this feasible, do they have over ride functions which take into account possible malfunctions? 3) Would you expect an operative to wear a harness in the bucket whilst on the ground? Any other thoughts/opinions would be welcomed to help me think this one through! Thanks, B

Posted By Brenda H Sorry, another thing, do cherry pickers have to be dual controlled, i.e. in basket and on ground in case of any eventuality?

Posted By Brenda H Hi Peter, Yes have since found the first reference material you mention, which is what I plan to start a risk assessment from. However, if anyone has an assessment for working with cherry pickers that they would be willing to share with me, I would be greatful! Thanks

Posted By Brenda H Possibly, and not taken the wrong way, but in the mean time, i.e. now, I just needed some thoughts from those that know more than me sent my way! I've had a look on the construction federations website at the document you have quoted from and typically it's under construction! No pun intended!

Posted By GT Brenda H, Some good advice has already been given on the forum, however in order to help answer your questions, by bucket you mean the cage or basket ? There have also been very good threads on this same subject in the past and a search may reveal good information for you. 1.Always wear harness and clip on before elevating. 2. Buddy system is good as another pair of eyes are looking for hazards. 3. Not necessarily one would think but with the vision of hindsight - if that person is going to service repair and check this machine then they need to take it aloft and rehouse it to test and check. The person should be trained in its operation and working at height, be wearing a safety harness and should know what emergency procedures to follow in case of a malfunction? Obviously he had the vehicle running when he was working on the controls - perhaps he should have fixed the problem first and then tested from the remote controls at ground level? Another recent accident It has been reported that a 33 year old maintenance worker was killed when he fell from an elevated work platform at 11:30 yesterday, Monday 23 April 2007. Another worker was also injured in the accident and was taken to hospital. It appears that the elevated work platform vehicle has tipped over while the men were on the platform which was in a raised position. Police are investigating the accident Hope this helps GT

Posted By John Lewis Hi, me again. More good stuff has been posted after my last entry and one thing which I forgot to mention is that these machines have massively torquey motors. As a result simply putting a chock in front of the wheels will not necessarily stop it moving. I have seen one climb over a chock which had been left inadvertently in place. The basket was sitting at what we considered driving height, about 10 feet up so the driver can see forward over the unit. The machine had a very long boom and the turning moment was so viscious that the basket put a big gouge in the roadway. Our drivers always wore harnesses even for driving and fortunately he was shaken but not thrown out. Over a coffee later he told me he had experienced weightlessness as the basket dropped and something else when it came back up to meet him a second later. You can get a similar effect going over speed ramps. Treat them with great respect.

Posted By Robert K Lewis Brenda For me the key point about your posting is that an operative, who clearly had no real understanding of cherrypickers, was attempting to fix it. This then poses all sorts of questions concerning supervision, management and training. Any use of a cherrypicker should never be "lone" as the normal emergency procedure is to use the controls in the machine body itself to lower the arm. I really am against reliance on descent ropes etc unless totally unavoidable. The dual controls are as far as I understand, universal on all plant of this type, including scissor lifts. No person should be operating such a vehicle without proper training by such as IPAF, or similar. This training is NOT the same as the familiarisation training provided by the supplier or hire company. I am sorry to say that in view of your lack of knowledge with these plant items you really are not in a position to do a risk assessment. You do not appear to have competent trained persons to either use or assess any task involving thir use. Hence assessment is simply that the risks are high and uncontrolled thus we should not utilise them. Bob

Posted By Brenda H Hi Bob, Thanks for your reply, i think we replied at a similar time so my posting was not deliberately ignoring what you had said. I'm not proposing to carry out the risk assessment on my own, but with a trained operative, my name is not going on the assessment either. My questions were really seeking further information/clarification on points so when I contribute to the assessment, from a H&S perspective, I am a little more informed about the work activity. B

Posted By Philip Beale Hi Brenda as i inderstand it they should be inspected by a trained person every six months (insurance inspection) and should be serviced by a trained service engineer for this equipment. It's common practice to wear a harness and a second person should be present to operate machine from the ground using emergency pump valves which releases the hydraulic pressure slowely. has the operator recieved any training on how to use this equipment. I done a one day training course. Risk assesments should already be in place before use of the equipment and also for the task being carried out. My view is that your company is not in a good position you would need to work hard to show you have learnt from this incident and putting control measures in place training courses, risk assesment etc. Hope this helps

Posted By Brenda H Hi Bob, We carry out a certain amount of maintenance in house, but not the 6 monthly loler checks, these are done through our insurance company by a company authorised by them. I have been on the IPAF site and got a list of local course providers. It would seem there isn't a general over-view course, I would have to go on an operatives course, which I don't mind doing.

Posted By Philip Beale Brenda Have any of your guys received training on use of cheery pickers. part of their training covers safe use and maintenance. As said above if your guys a lacking training and no risk assessment then you may be better off suspending all use. Phil