Accidents related to a bucket truck may happen anytime and any place; however this kind of occurrence can be prevented through compliance to the set of rules and safety standards made by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) & American National Standard Institute (ANSI). By abiding to these federal safety standards, workers can avoid serious or deadly injuries. The most common and foreseeable accidents associated with the use of boom trucks are overturns and boom failures.

Many workers died annually as a result of falls that have been reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (USBLS CFOI). The incidence of serious injuries will continue to rise if workers do not follow safety standards to minimize potential dangers. To solve this existing problem, OSHA continuously implements health and safety guidelines to decrease the number of fatalities that occur each year.

To avert these common accidents from happening and to minimize the number of injuries each year, we have gathered together a set of guidelines. This set of rules and regulations can serve as a precautionary measure to lessen the identified occupational incident.

Overturn Guidelines

1. Don’t attempt to park on unpaved surfaces. This may result in a tip-over when the boom is being maneuvered to raise the bucket. Make sure that the truck is parked on even ground.

2. Don’t exceed the bucket’s loading capacity. Always refer to the manufacturer’s manual and user’s guide to make sure that you are within the vehicle’s capacity to lift materials.

3. Don’t use the bucket truck when there is a strong wind. The wind currents could eventually cause the vehicle to overturn when the aerial lift is raised. The boom should not be used if the prevailing wind exceeds 30 mph.

4. Hydraulic outriggers should be positioned in place to re-enforce stability. This is to ensure a firm footing for the vehicle.

5. The emergency brake should be engaged and wheels secured with a block of wood/chocked.

6. Don’t drive when the aerial lift is raised and extended especially when the employee is still inside the bucket.

Boom Failure Guidelines

1. Conduct pre-operation inspections to make sure that the utility vehicle is in good working condition. Any deficiencies should be corrected prior to the usage of the vehicle.

2. Test the boom control to ensure that everything is functional. Check hydraulic or electrical system that controls the boom so that, in case of an electrical power failure occurring, the boom is prevented from sudden movement. An electrical safety test should be conducted per ANSI/SIA A92.2 requirements.

3. Check hydraulic and pneumatic systems for any leaks. If any leaks are observed, have it fixed it immediately to prevent future problems.

4. Don’t jolt the controls as this could cause a sudden boom movement. This is extremely dangerous especially when a system malfunction occurs.

5. Check for damaged, loose or missing parts.

Danger and hazards will always exist. They are just waiting for the opportunity to sneak in and cause problems. No one is immune to accidents but everyone is prone to it. There is no such word as ‘nine lives’ when talking about danger. By following these simple guidelines, one can prevent the onset of these two potential bucket truck accidents – overturn & boom failure!