The Latest Developments in Aerial Equipment Safety

Efforts to improve aerial work platform safety have fueled multiple recent technological innovations now available for use by utility organizations.

Among the critical features found in modern bucket trucks are collision-mitigation systems and reverse sensors and camera systems, according to Chris Shallenberg, national sales manager for PALFINGER North America (www.palfinger.com).

“These features ensure the vehicle and the operator can maneuver easily, even in tight or busy urban environments,” he said.

Other essential technologies include lanyard detection systems and emergency auxiliary systems. A lanyard detection system locks out the aerial equipment operator until their lanyard is securely attached to an anchor point in the bucket, significantly reducing fall risk, while an emergency auxiliary system allows an operator to safely lower the bucket should the chassis or primary pump fail.

Jim Glazer, president and CEO of Elliott Equipment Co. (https://elliottequip.com), said that “safety is designed into” the company’s machines, “not bolted on.” Elliott aerial devices feature auto-leveling outriggers and envelope control interlocks designed to eliminate guesswork during setup, operation and teardown. They also offer real-time load sensing and integrated tie-off points, which help to ensure compliance with OSHA and ANSI standards, making daily operations safer and supporting total cost of ownership objectives.

Equipment Update
Recently, Altec (www.altec.com) introduced the revamped AA/AN55+, a general update to one of its most popular aerial equipment models that includes various modern safety features, according to Ryan Hulleman, Altec market manager.

“The new AA/AN55+ model can reach the platform to ground as standard,” he said. “This was a feature that we heard requested consistently from lineworkers while conducting field trials. The linemen told us having a platform that reaches ground helps with access and egress, makes it easier to pass materials to a worker in the platform, and simplifies the hurt-man rescue procedure.”

Altec also addressed user feedback that accessing lower controls can be challenging when the cargo area is full of materials. The new AA/AN55+ model includes a wired pendant – equipped with platform and jib tilt as standard – for use as the primary lower control, improving operator access and visibility.

Lanyard Alert and Lanyard Interlock detection systems are offered with the AA/AN55+. Both are designed to ensure operators clip their lanyard in place before operating from the upper controls, Hulleman said.

Are Advanced Safety Features Needed?
Utility fleet managers play a significant role in determining whether advanced safety features are incorporated into fleet vehicles. Shallenberg advised decision-makers to assess how new safety features could impact utility crew work practices, pointing to operator experience and the work environment as two critical factors to consider. “In some instances, more experienced operators or those operating in lower-risk environments may not find as much value in additional safety features.”

Naturally, cost is a consideration when retrofitting safety features. Shallenberg recommended fleet discussions with safety teams or insurance providers to gauge risks and rewards. “The safety of the operator should always be the priority,” he emphasized.

Glazer pointed out that “the best fleets view safety upgrades as part of total cost of ownership, not just compliance,” and highlighted the fundamental need for utility organizations to understand jobsite risks, regulatory compliance requirements, retrofit compatibility and operator training needs.

Aerial Device Standards
Regulatory and consensus standards greatly influence the industry’s development and adoption of aerial safety technologies.

Shallenberg referenced the role of ANSI A92.2, “American National Standard for Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices,” in setting the national safety benchmark. Other relevant standards include OSHA 29 CFR 1910.67 (“Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms”) and CSA C225 (“Vehicle-mounted aerial devices”).

“Manufacturers must always plan to comply with the most recent release of these standards,” he said, noting that the contents of a standard should be considered minimum compliance requirements. “It’s the responsibility of the aerial manufacturers to innovate further based on what our customers may need.”

Looking to the Future
There is little doubt that emerging technologies will continue to enhance aerial equipment safety. Looking to the future, Shallenberg suggested that “voltage detection systems may become invaluable for operators” as power demands increase and telecom lines continue to share space near energized distribution lines. He also sensed a growing trend toward remote-based operations that enable equipment operators to perform tasks from a safer distance.

Glazer echoed Shallenberg, saying that he expects “connected, intelligent systems” to emerge. He also emphasized the role of advancing telematics, real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance technologies as future standards in aerial device safety and efficiency.

About the Author: Grace Suizo has been covering the automotive fleet industry since 2007. She spent six years as an editor for five fleet publications and has written more than 100 articles geared toward both commercial and public sector fleets.