How to Operate Cherry Pickers Safely

The portable cherry picker is widely used indoor and outdoor for aerial works. Working at height can be very dangerous. Falls are by far the biggest reason for death and serious injury, across all working environments, but with care and correct training, this risk can be very much diminished. One important element of working at height is choosing the right equipment, and in many cases, a cherry picker is by far the safest option. Here we would like to share some tips on the operation.

Portable Cherry Pickers Introduction

MORN’s cherry pickers can be transported easily from site to site and set up quickly using hydraulic outrigger legs. They are built to be as light and compact as possible and offer an excellent working envelope for their size, with platform heights ranging from 10m to over 20m.

Easy to use proportional controls make them simple to operate, and features such as telescopic booms, jib-booms, platform rotation, traction drive, and hydraulic outrigger legs all help to maximize their effectiveness.

Power options available on MORN towable cherry pickers include a battery, AC, Gas, Diesel, and ‘Bi-Energy’ (e.g. Battery & Diesel), combining the benefits of two power sources on the same machine.

Portable Cherry Pickers Safety Tips 

SAFETY TIP 1 – CHECK HIGH AND LOW

Before starting work with a cherry picker, you must check the ground and space above your head. The ground must be as level as possible – a cherry picker is not advisable on very uneven ground, because when in use, the extra weight on the platform plus any movement there could cause it to tip over. Overhead, beware of wires, or a ceiling which may be lower than it looks. If using a cherry picker to lop branches, it is important to make sure that no one leans over too far – a great temptation when using a platform to trim trees.

SAFETY TIP 2 – DON’T BE A HERO!

When working on a platform, there is a sense of false security which can result in leaning over too far. The whole point of using a cherry picker rather than a tower is that you can move it from place to place, so leaning over is unnecessary. You may feel you are saving a few moments, but it could be a lethal decision. Stay within the parameters of harness and platform to be totally safe. Also please wear the safety helmet and belt all time when working.

SAFETY TIP 3 – DO A FULL RISK ASSESSMENT

When risk assessing a job involving a cherry picker one of the factors often forgotten is the human element. To some, a cherry picker is a fun thing to watch in action and people can be very stupid, standing below or trying to distract workers on the platform. By far the safest way to prevent accidents caused by others is to exclude them as far as possible from any working area.

SAFETY TIP 4 – TRAINING

Any safety precautions will be pointless if the person using the equipment is unfamiliar with it. Working at height on a static tower or ladder is not the same as working on a moveable platform and so training should be given to all staff who use or may be called upon to use a cherry picker or any powered access platform. MORN will provide the manual operation when shipping the lift. Please make sure all the operations are in a safe way and avoid misoperation. If any questions during the operation, contact us freely at any time.

If you want to know more about the portable cherry picker, contact us freely.