11.08.2011

Self-propelled driver

A reader in the UK has sent us a photo for the Death Wish series showing a truck mounted lift being used as a self-propelled.

The lift is owned by a Leicestershire baser roofing company that professes to take health & safety very seriously and you have to applaud it for acquiring its own work platforms.

The question in this case though is why the telescopic 3.5 tonne truck mount was being used in this manner? The man in the platform is cleaning and repairing the gutters, a short job for sure that involves very little time in one place.
Please register to see all images

One man up and one in the cab driving

So he has taken the unit up without outriggers – quite possible to do on a number of units when working at low heights such as this and over the rear of the machine – nothing wrong there- perhaps. Although the lift does appear to be moving over sloping ground.

However he has a driver in the cab of the truck and rather than descend to move he shouts for him to drive forward with the platform raised to the next work point. We only know of one or two machines that are approved for such work and they generally have a drive control in the platform.
Please register to see all images

Reparing gutters on the move

And given that the man up top has no control over the propulsion of the lift and that there is no cordoning off to prevent a car hitting them, it is surprising to see that he is not wearing a harness!
Definitely a Death Wish.
Please register to see all images

No cordoning off - no harness - no lanyard and on sloping ground too!

Our correspondent adds: “It would be interesting to see if it had a current Loler and who had done it if it did?!” Based – we assume - on the fact that most machines include interlocks that would prevent the machine being used in this manner.