Aerial Lift Inspection: The Daily Walkaround Before You Go Up
A daily aerial lift inspection takes minutes and helps catch leaks, damage and dead safety devices before you go up.
Do an aerial lift inspection, a quick walkaround, before the machine goes to work each day. It takes ten or fifteen minutes, and it catches leaks, damage and dead safety devices before you are twenty feet up. This is how we go about it at The Lift Bros in Chouteau, Oklahoma.
We sell, repair and refurbish used scissor lifts, boom lifts, mast lifts and rough-terrain lifts. Always follow your machine's manual first. This is a general guide, not a replacement for it.
Why does an aerial lift need a daily check?
A machine that was fine yesterday can be damaged today. A lift works hard and gets used by different people. The operator is the last line of defense, so the operator should do the check.
What paperwork should be on an aerial lift?
The operator's manual, legible decals and a current inspection should all be on the machine. Check:
- Is the operator's manual on the machine?
- Are the decals legible?
- Is the last inspection current?
- Any tags saying the machine is out of service?
If a machine is tagged out, it stays out.
What should you check on an aerial lift's base?
Walk around the chassis and look at the tires, frame and welds:
- Tires: cuts, bulges, missing lug nuts, correct pressure where it applies.
- Frame and welds: cracks or bent metal.
- Leaks: oil, fluid or fuel under the machine.
- Outriggers or stabilizers, if fitted: pins in place and pads sound.
How do you check the power source?
Check the batteries on electric machines and the fluids on engine machines.
Electric machines: batteries charged, water at the right level, cables tight and free of corrosion, charger working.
Engine machines: engine oil, coolant, fuel and hydraulic oil at the right levels, belts and hoses in good shape.
What should you look for on the lift structure?
Look over the scissor arms, boom sections, pins and cylinders for leaks, cracks and anything missing:
- Hydraulic cylinders: no leaks, no scoring on rods.
- Hoses: no rubbing, cracks or bulges.
- Pins and retainers: in place.
- Boom: no dents or cracks, wear pads intact.
- Scissor stack: no bent arms, and the lowering path is clear.
What should you check on the platform and guardrails?
Check that the rails and gates are secure and latch properly, then the rest of the platform:
- Midrails and toe boards are in place.
- Floor is clean, with no oil or debris.
- Harness anchor points are undamaged if your machine has them.
How do you test the controls?
Test from the ground first, then from the platform.
Test from the ground
Before you go up, run the ground controls and check that the machine moves as it should, then stop and hold. Test the emergency lowering system. Check the horn, alarms and lights. Test the tilt alarm and any other safety devices the manual lists.
Test from the platform
Get in, close the gate, and run through the controls at low height. Make sure the enable switch, steering, drive and lift all work. Listen for odd noises.
What should you check around the work area?
Check the work area as well as the machine. Look up for power lines and low beams. Look for floor holes, slopes, soft ground, traffic and people. Set up on firm, level ground. Watch the wind. Do not go up if it is beyond what the manual allows.
When should you take an aerial lift out of service?
Take the machine out of service if you find:
- Any hydraulic leak that is growing
- Cracks in structure or welds
- Damaged guardrails
- A safety device that does not work
- Anything you are not sure about
Tag it and report it. Do not work around a problem.
Should you keep a record of aerial lift inspections?
Yes. Write down the date, the operator and any defects. A record helps you spot repeat issues and shows the machine has been looked after.
What should a used aerial lift come with?
A good used machine should come with a documented inspection. Our refurbished machines get a documented refurb. Ask any seller what was checked and what was repaired.
Does every type of aerial lift get the same check?
No. A scissor lift has no boom to inspect, but its scissor stack and lowering path matter a lot. A boom lift has more hydraulics and more pins, and the turntable and swing area need a look. A rough-terrain lift adds engine, axle and stabilizer checks. Learn the specific list for the machine you run, and keep the manual in the basket.
How do you train operators to do the walkaround?
Walk new operators through the checklist once on the machine. A checklist does no good if the operator does not know what a bad sign looks like. Show them what a healthy hose and a good pin look like next to a worn one.
Questions about a lift or a checklist for yours? Get in touch with us.
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