Aerial Lift Inspections

Sometimes you need more than a ladder to complete a task, and elevating work platforms are an effective and durable solution. Whether you use a scissor lift for building maintenance or a boom truck for electrical line repair, your business depends on your equipment to get the job done.

Your employees look to you to promote their health and welfare on the job too. Part of that responsibility is ensuring your lift functions at its risk-free best. Potential injury isn’t the only reason for inspection, however — equipment known to be safe can stay in the field for continued use and yield steady income for your business.

Inspections, whether quarterly or annually are an important part of the safety of all aerial lift and material handling equipment. All our inspections are performed according to the manufacturer’s specifications and conform to ANSI/SIA STD A92.6, Section 6.3.

Inspections can be performed both onsite and at our shop. Inspections performed in our shop include load testing and load sense calibration for all pieces of equipment. Included with all our inspections is a detailed report including things such as wear items, engine maintenance, broken parts and any items that are serviced and repaired prior to passing inspection. Our extensive process helps our customers know ahead of time if anything needs to be repaired or replaced prior to equipment being put into service. For more information about inspections or to schedule an inspection please call our office and one of our friendly sales reps will be glad to assist you with whatever your needs may be.

What Is an Aerial Lift Inspection?

An aerial lift inspection evaluates the different parts of your rig to ensure it’s ready to operate safely. Equipment examinations prevent hazards that could result in death or injury, such as tip-overs, falls and electric shocks.

Each inspection reviews essential features of the machine, including:

• Operating and movement controls: Ensure all levers work as designed, with smooth movement and steady speed. Look over tires and wheels for defects.
• Fuel and hydraulics: Check for leakage around device components and beneath the rig.
• Electrical systems and insulators: Identify any exposed wiring that creates a hazard or compromised insulating material that wouldn’t stop electrical shock.
• Emergency equipment: Make sure all guardrails and safety harnesses are fully functional. Test tilt sensors that help prevent tip-overs. Ensure that override controls are fully operational and in the correct position.
• Instructions and signage: Check that all necessary operating directions and labels are readable.

Inspections fall into one of three categories — usage, timely and annual.

How Often Do Lifts Need to Be Inspected?

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) issues guidelines about aerial lift inspections under its standards A92.5 and A92.6. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) bases its regulations on those standards. While many consider ANSI compliance voluntary, conforming to OSHA regulations is mandatory. The penalties for violation are steep.

Usage Inspections

A usage inspection is similar to what you do each time you get behind the wheel of your primary vehicle. You check the gas level, make sure the tires aren’t flat and look in both directions before pulling out.

Every time you or one of your employees operates the lift, you should conduct a comparable general inspection before and after. You can protect your team and your investment with a pre-operation checklist prior to using your elevated work platform.

If your projects require work under extreme conditions, your machinery may be subject to more wear and tear than average. Consider inspecting your aerial lifts with a careful eye for part deterioration at more frequent intervals.

Perform usage inspections on the work site itself too. Examine it for hazards like holes or construction debris that can create an unsafe environment for operating your lift. If a safety issue occurs, such as contact with an electrical hazard, you should discontinue use until you complete another thorough inspection. Prevent downtime by learning to spot potential environmental issues beforehand.

Timely Inspections

Timely inspections — also known as frequent or quarterly inspections — are similar to the more advanced jobs that might require you to take a vehicle to a mechanic. Think maintenance like transmission fluid changes or new tires.

ANSI recommends lift inspections after three months or 150 hours of use, whichever occurs first. You should also have a comprehensive examination performed whenever your rig is out of work for three months or more.

In both cases, a certified technician will examine the items mentioned above as well as several other equipment features.

ANSI and OSHA Aerial Lift Annual Inspection Requirements

ANSI and OSHA guidelines also call for a thorough annual inspection to evaluate machine health and performance in greater depth. A specially trained individual will look at the following during quarterly inspections in addition to all the operational elements mentioned above:

• Equipment registration: This documentation verifies that you’ve registered the equipment with the manufacturer.
• Safety notices and recalls: A knowledgeable inspector will ensure that you addressed any post-purchase manufacturer guidance.
• Brand-specific and lift-specific inspection points: Manufacturer-approved technicians undergo training on inspection procedures for specific lift models. Having your annual inspection performed by a certified technician ensures that the equipment is ready to operate safely and efficiently.

Remember that these requirements apply to any style of elevating work platform, even manual models.

Preparing for Your Aerial Lift Inspection

Many lift owners and operators turn to an outside vendor for their equipment examinations. Outside experts objectively apply standards and adhere to regulations, so you have peace of mind throughout the process.

When using a third party for your required inspection, here are three steps you can take to ensure it goes smoothly and keeps your investment working at its best:

• Document: Organize all your previous evaluations and upkeep records for the machine and keep them available.
• Keep up to date: Address maintenance issues and safety bulletins as they arrive to prevent machine downtime. Only lifts that pass inspection may continue to operate.
• Leverage your employees: View mandatory operator training and usage inspections as a preventative tool. Use them to identify potential minor issues before they become major ones.

Trust the Pros at Wellbuilt Equipment for Lift Inspections in Chicago

Regular inspections are vital to using and maintaining aerial lifts and other material handling equipment safely. Have your operators follow a detailed usage inspection checklist to keep the equipment running at peak performance in day-to-day operations, and stick to a strict schedule for time-based and annual inspections to ensure regulatory compliance and catch any small issues before they become major problems.

At Wellbuilt Equipment, our skilled technicians perform inspections that fully comply with ANSI/SIA STD A92.6, Section 6.3 and follow all manufacturer recommendations for routine maintenance and machine evaluations. We can perform inspections in our Chicago lift shop or on your job site, and our extensive capabilities include load sense calibration and load testing for your equipment.

Following the inspection, we provide a comprehensive service record noting any issues we discover and detailing machine information such as wear item condition, engine health and fluid status. We’ll also note any repairs or other services we perform. Our team strives to provide full transparency and make sure you’re fully informed on your equipment’s condition before you return it to service.

To learn more about our lift inspection capabilities for the Chicago area or schedule an appointment with one of our certified technicians, please give us a call at 1-800-833-3748 or reach out via our online contact form. One of our friendly team members will be happy to provide the information you need.