Cherry Picker Limitations
After looking at what Cherry Pickers can do, it is also worth knowing about the limitations. There are many factors to look at which could rule out the use of Cherry Picker.
A common factor to rule out a Cherry Picker is the safe working load (SWL). Cherry Pickers are designed mainly for personnel access only, NOT for lifting any substation weight or volume of materials. They should not under any circumstances be used to take the place of proper lifting equipment such as a crane.
Is there other equipment or machines that can do the same job cheaper or safer? Cherry Pickers are great for jobs where access is needed for a short time in many different places. Scaffolding or Scaffold towers may be more appropriate if it’s going to be a long job or you need regular access over a period of time. If you only need to go straight up a Scissor Lift can get you your tools and a limited amount of materials up where you need to be.
This "Guide to selecting access equipment" should identify which equipment will be most suitable.
Are the personnel that need to use the Cherry Picker trained and competent? Any form of working at height is potentially lethal. Use of Cherry Picker is no exception and in the wrong hands it can be riskier than other techniques. All personnel using a Cherry Picker need to be fully trained to a high standard. All staff working in the vicinity have to be fully aware of what can and can’t be done whilst the Cherry Picker is being used. IPAF, the International Powered Access Federation has designed highly respected training courses and a certification system that enables site managers to get a clear understanding of the operator’s competence. If personnel are not properly competent to use a Cherry Picker then a different method of Access should be chosen.
Try the Astley Hire for more information about Training for Cherry Pickers.
Vehicle Mounted Cherry Pickers
Trailer Mounted Cherry Pickers
Self-Propelled Cherry Pickers
And Cherry Picker Limitations
Section Contents:
All about Cherry Pickers on iDoStuff (please read the notes)
What is a Cherry Picker
Types of Cherry Pickers
Cherry Picker Limitations
Cherry Picker Safety
IPAF Training for Cherry Pickers
IPAF Course Cost in Detail