Aerial Lifts in Extreme Heat: Protecting the Machine and Crew
Extreme heat is hard on aerial lift batteries, hydraulics, engines and crews, so here is what to check when the temperature climbs.
Extreme heat is hard on aerial lifts and on the people who run them. Batteries, hydraulics, engines and tires all take a beating through a long summer, and a few habits will save you from a dead machine or a bad afternoon.
The Lift Bros, in Chouteau, Oklahoma, sells, repairs and refurbishes used scissor lifts, boom lifts, mast lifts and rough-terrain lifts, so we see what summer does to them. Always follow your machine's manual first.
How does extreme heat affect aerial lift batteries?
Batteries take the worst of it. Heat speeds up water loss in flooded lead-acid batteries and shortens their life. A tired battery set shows up as short run time and slow lifting.
- Check water levels often in hot weather, and top up with distilled water only.
- Charge in a shaded, ventilated spot.
- Do not charge a battery that is hot from work. Let it cool first.
- Keep terminals clean and tight.
What does heat do to lift hydraulics?
Hot oil gets thin, and old hoses crack. Look over the machine for leaks, weeping fittings and soft or swollen hoses. Check the hydraulic oil level cold, on level ground, as the manual directs. If the machine moves slower than it did in spring, do not ignore it.
How do you keep an engine-powered lift from overheating?
Boom and rough-terrain lifts with engines add a cooling problem. Keep the cooling system clean:
- Keep the radiator and screens clear of dust and debris.
- Check coolant.
- Watch the temperature gauge, and shut down if it climbs.
- Do not idle for long stretches in full sun.
Does heat affect tires and ground conditions?
Yes. Hot pavement is rough on tires, so check for cuts, bulges and low pressure. On rough ground, watch for soft spots after summer rain and storms, since a wheel or outrigger sinking is a tipping risk.
How do you protect the crew on an aerial lift in extreme heat?
Plan the work around the heat, and follow your employer's heat safety program. A lift can work fine while the person on the platform struggles, and at height there is no easy way out. General reminders:
- Drink water before you are thirsty, and keep spare water on the ground crew's truck, not just on the platform.
- Take breaks in the shade.
- Schedule the hardest lift work for early morning and late afternoon.
- Wear gloves. Platform rails, controls and steel surfaces can burn bare hands after hours in the sun.
If someone on the platform feels unwell, lower the platform and get them help.
What should you check after a long hot shift?
When you park the machine, look for leaks that showed up under load and plug the charger in somewhere shaded. Note anything that felt off and report it before the next shift. Heat makes small problems bigger, and a note today can save a breakdown later in the week.
Park and store lifts out of the sun when you can, away from where heat builds up. Sun and heat shorten the life of hoses, wiring insulation and plastics.
When should you service an aerial lift for summer?
Before the heat hits, and again in the middle of the season. Summer is not the time to find out a machine needs work.
Older lifts deserve a closer look. They have older hoses, wiring and seals, so give them more attention in the heat, and a documented refurb record helps you know what has been done.
What goes on a summer aerial lift checklist?
- Batteries watered and charging properly
- Hydraulic oil and hoses checked
- Coolant and radiator clear on engine models
- Tires and ground conditions inspected
- Daily walkaround done before every shift
- Water and shade plans for the crew
Need a machine ready for a hot season, or one repaired? Tell us what you run.
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