Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council
I’ve been working with and training people to safely use elevating work platforms for . . . . well, let’s just say it’s been a very long time. Unfortunately, every year we see a number of workers seriously injured or even lose their lives, from falling or tipping over an elevating work platform. I have to give the company in this photo some credit: they apparently have embarked on a safety awareness program for their employees. I suspect they have pens, caps, maybe tee-shirts with the “Think Safety” motto on them. A few strategically placed banners must have seemed to have been a good idea, too – “Get the safety message out in front of the workers.”
Apparently the worker in the photo must have believed the message on the banner to “THINK Safety” applied to only those working on the shop floor. And, no pun in tended, he was above the rule.
WAC 296-869-60040
Working from the platform
You must
Make sure persons working from the platform:
-Keep a firm footing on the platform;and
-Do not use guardrails, planks, ladders, or any other device to gain additional height or reach
The Washington Administrative code makes it pretty clear; the workers feet belong firmly on the platform floor, no where else, and certainly not on the guard rails.
Evergreen Safety Council offers training for elevating work platform operators and an instructor program as well. Give us a call at 1-800-521-0778, to see how we can cost effectively help you meet your companies’ safety training needs.
Apparently the worker in the photo must have believed the message on the banner to “THINK Safety” applied to only those working on the shop floor. And, no pun in tended, he was above the rule.
WAC 296-869-60040
Working from the platform
You must
Make sure persons working from the platform:
-Keep a firm footing on the platform;and
-Do not use guardrails, planks, ladders, or any other device to gain additional height or reach
The Washington Administrative code makes it pretty clear; the workers feet belong firmly on the platform floor, no where else, and certainly not on the guard rails.
Evergreen Safety Council offers training for elevating work platform operators and an instructor program as well. Give us a call at 1-800-521-0778, to see how we can cost effectively help you meet your companies’ safety training needs.
Picture source: the Navy Safety Center
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