From power line maintenance to streetlight holiday decorating, bucket trucks help you get the job done quickly. These boom trucks can be driven on the road, making them great for working at height along a route. To get the most out of your bucket truck and avoid deadly accidents and costly delays, safety must be your top priority. In this article, you’ll get an overview of the key steps to using a bucket truck safely. This is not a substitute for proper training. But you can use this as a refresher guide on how to safely operate a bucket lift truck.
Important! OSHA Regulations and Safety Training for Operating a Bucket Lift Truck
Bucket trucks are a type of mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) or aerial lift. Like any aerial lift, they come with a variety of safety risks, including potential falls, tip-overs, entanglement with power lines and electrocution, and collapse.
In fact, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), dozens of workers were injured or died in a three-year span as a result of accidents while operating an aerial lift.
Improper or unsafe use of a bucket truck can be deadly and cause costly delays or damage. That’s why agencies such as OSHA require training and certification for all aerial lift operators. Before anyone in your team steps into the bucket, make sure they have been thoroughly trained on how to use a bucket truck. Proper safety training will help them use the truck safely and know what to do in the event of an emergency or malfunction.
If you’re renting a bucket truck, ask your provider if they offer safety training. They can make sure your team is prepared to safely operate the exact model you’re renting.
Reminder: The rest of this article is not intended as a replacement for proper training. Instead, you can use the tips below for a refresher on how to safely operate a bucket truck.
Let’s get started.
How to Start a Bucket Truck Safely
An unstable, improperly set up bucket truck can spell disaster. Use the steps below to make sure the truck is safe and ready for use before anyone enters the bucket.
1. Read the User’s Manual and Inspect the Truck Before Use
Every bucket truck is different. Even if you’ve used other bucket trucks before, it’s important for operators to read the user manual for their current model.
The manual will tell you:
- Your specific model’s weight capacity limits.
- How to position the truck, including how much slope the truck can handle.
- What to look for during inspections.
- How to operate a bucket truck’s controls.
- How to troubleshoot potential issues.
At a minimum, operators should read the manual before the first use. However, when it comes to safety inspections, operators should inspect the bucket truck before every use to ensure everything is in safe working condition.
Start every day you use the bucket truck with a safety inspection:
- OSHA Requirement: Test all lift controls daily before use.
- Test all safety features, such as alarms and level sensors.
- Check for proper tire inflation and fluid levels.
- Inspect the truck, boom, bucket and tires for wear or damage.
- If a malfunction or damage is discovered, address it with your maintenance provider or rental provider before continuing.
2. Position the Truck, Put It in Neutral and Set the Emergency Brake
Once the bucket truck has passed inspection and you’re at the project site, it’s time to set up the truck for use.
First, position the truck in a safe location near the target work area. Make sure the truck is on level ground that’s free of potholes, which could risk stability.
Put the truck in neutral and set the emergency brake. This will help prevent rolling while allowing you to initiate controls.
3. Set Wheel Chocks and Outriggers
Wheel chocks and outriggers are critical to keeping the bucket truck stable and stationary. Keep in mind, if the ground is soft, you may need to place outrigger pads on the ground to keep the outriggers from sinking.
- Place wheel chocks in front of and behind tires to prevent rolling.
- Pull out the outrigger control knob and lower the outrigger on the side of the truck that is the most downhill.
- Next, lower the outrigger on the other side of the truck. Push the outrigger control back in to activate the controls in the bucket.
- Once your bucket truck is stabilized and the bucket controls are activated, your project work can start.
4. Initiate the Proper Controls According to the User’s Manual
Set the controls to allow operators to work from the back of the bucket truck. For many bucket trucks, this includes turning on safety beacons and a master switch. Refer to the user’s manual for specific instructions.
How to Operate a Bucket Truck Safely
When using a bucket truck, follow the steps below to help ensure the safety of your team and those nearby.
1. Gear Up with Proper Personal Protective Equipment
Everyone working from the bucket needs to have appropriate gear to protect them from falling or injuries caused by falling objects or collisions. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) includes, but is not limited to:
- Harnesses or fall protection systems
- High-visibility clothing
- Hard hats, gloves and safety glasses
2. Confirm All Ground Personnel Know How to Help in an Emergency
Quick action from the ground crew can save the lives of those in the bucket.
Every bucket truck has a set of controls within the bucket and on the base of the truck. If there’s an emergency in the bucket, the ground crew will need to take control and lower the boom.
Make sure that all ground personnel know how to use the lower controls on the base of the truck to safely lower the bucket. Consider having a team safety briefing at the start of each day before anyone enters the bucket.
3. Enter the Bucket and Keep Both Feet on the Floor
While in the bucket, do not try to gain additional reach by leaning or using a ladder. Keep both feet flat on the floor of the bucket to maintain your own stability. A sudden wind gust or operator error could jerk the bucket, causing you to lose balance and fall. Reaching beyond the bucket in any way could lead to a deadly fall out of the bucket.
4. Stay Within the Boom Truck’s Weight Limit
Do not overload the bucket beyond the truck’s maximum weight capacity. Operators need to monitor the amount of weight in the bucket to prevent tip-overs and malfunctions. When in doubt, overestimate the total weight of all tools, materials and people in the bucket.
5. Move the Boom Smoothly and Gradually
Moving the boom too fast or in an abrupt, jerky manner increases the risk of collisions. It can also throw people in the bucket off balance, making them fall or drop equipment. So, take it slow and aim for smooth movements.
6. Stay 10 Feet Away from Power Lines and Fixed Objects
If any part of the bucket truck hits a power line, it could electrocute anyone touching the truck. It’s safest to consider all power lines energized and keep the bucket and boom at least 10 feet away. This distance also gives you enough room to safely navigate around other obstacles even if the bucket and boom sway or rock.
7. Pause If You Notice Unusual Movements or Sounds
Any new or unexpected movement or sound could be a sign of an accident or malfunction that’s about to happen. When working in the bucket, throttle down the engine so you can hear what’s going on around you.
Stop immediately if you or anyone on the ground notices something unusual with the bucket truck. Return to a lowered position and address the issue before continuing. A repair delay is always preferable to a costly or deadly disaster.
8. Keep the Truck and Outriggers in Place While Working
The key on how to operate a bucket truck safely is stability. The more movement there is when the bucket is in use, the greater the risk of accidents, falls and tip-overs.
Always keep the truck parked on solid, level ground while the bucket is in use. Keep the outriggers and chock blocks engaged until work is finished and the operator is out of the bucket. Do not remove the outriggers or chock blocks until the boom has been fully lowered and fastened down.
- Learn more: Find tips on what you need to know about bucket trucks.
Reach New Heights Safely with a Bucket Truck from Herc Rentals
Think safety! When a project calls for a bucket truck, contact the equipment experts at Herc Rentals. Our fleet of high-quality bucket trucks from the leading manufacturers will help you tackle a variety of tasks. With advanced safety features like insulated buckets, and excellent maneuverability and reach, you can maximize your team’s productivity and help prevent accidents or costly delays.
Our equipment experts will help you save time and labor with prompt field maintenance and equipment delivery services. Plus, our Equipment Safe Operator Training offers hands-on practical certification training to teach your team how to safely operate a bucket lift truck.
Explore our crane and bucket truck selection or give us a call at 888-777-2700 to discuss options today.
