TITLE:	ES&H Manual
DOCUMENT ID:	6147 Aerial Work Platforms

1.0 Introduction

The use of aerial work platforms involves potential hazards that can result in fatal injury or major property damage. Reducing risks through personnel training, safe design, inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of aerial work platforms is an important part of using this type of equipment safely at Jefferson Lab. Only properly trained and qualified operators may operate aerial platforms.

Serious operating hazards are:

· structural failure or overturning caused by overloading or operating on too great of an incline

· instability caused by improper operation, such as driving over obstructions and pot-holes

· collision with objects or pedestrians

· poor maintenance

· using equipment for a purpose for which it was not intended or designed

· contact with overhead electrical lines

This chapter provides guidance in the use of aerial work platforms and applies to their operation, inspection, and maintenance by anyone on property that Jefferson Science Associates, LLC (JSA)/Jefferson Lab owns or leases. It also applies to Jefferson Lab employees who take aerial work platforms off site to conduct Jefferson Lab business elsewhere.

More specific guidance is also provided in ES&H Manual Chapter 6147 Appendix T1 Aerial Work Platforms.

2.0 Hazard Avoidance

General employees safety

• Do not go beneath the boom of an aerial work platform.
• Do not enter a work area around an aerial work platform which has been cordoned off (usually with tape, rope, sawhorses, or cones).
• Use extreme caution when venturing near an in-use platform.

When working on an aerial work platform

· Wear a full body harness with a lanyard attached to the basket, not tied off to adjacent pole, structure, or other piece of equipment.

· Always stand firmly on the floor of the basket, and do not lean over or sit or climb on the platform railing.

· Do not exceed boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer.

· When outriggers are used, position them on pads or on a solid surface. Wheel chocks shall be installed before using an aerial lift on an incline, provided they can be safely installed.

· Only trained and authorized persons shall operate aerial work platforms.

· Articulating boom and extensible boom platforms, primarily designed as personnel carriers, must have both platform (upper) and lower controls.

· Upper controls must be in or beside the platform within easy reach of the operator. Lower controls must provide for overriding the upper controls.

· Controls must be plainly marked as to their function.

· Lower-level controls must not be operated unless permission has been obtained from the employee in the lift, except in case of an emergency.

· The insulated portion of an aerial lift must not be altered in any manner that might reduce its insulating value.

· Before moving an aerial lift for travel, inspect the boom(s) to ensure that it is properly cradled and outriggers are in a stowed position except as provided by separate instructions from the vehicle operations manual.

Each aerial work platform shall have a single person identified as responsible for ensuring its safe use: its “owner”. When such equipment has a clearly restricted specific use, the supervisor of this use shall be the responsible party.

• A list of Jefferson Lab aerial work platforms/lift equipment and the corresponding principal responsible party is maintained by the Material Handling Safety Representative (MHSR) (ext. 7406).

Supervisors and user/owners

Ensure that the operator is appropriately qualified, trained, and supervised regarding the use of aerial work platforms.

Only authorized employees and subcontractors may operate aerial work platforms.

• When not in use, lock aerial work platform controls, or otherwise disable the unit to prevent unauthorized use.
• Notify the Jefferson Lab MHSR (ext. 7406) of any equipment deficiencies.
• Obtain concurrence from the MHSR or designee on requisitions for rental or contracted material handling equipment and jobs.
• Notify the building manager prior to bringing any aerial work platform equipment into a building or facility.
• Make sure that all aerial work platform equipment is regularly inspected and properly maintained and repaired.
• Notify Occupational Medicine of those employees and subcontractors requiring medical certification.

Supervisors’ training responsibilities

• Supervisors are responsible for determining employees' aerial work platform operator training needs and verifying that operating aerial work platforms is part of their normal scope of employment. The MHSR provides the needed training.
• The supervisor is responsible for securing the needed training. Training requests for the standardized aerial work platform operator class must be made by the employee’s supervisor.

Jefferson Lab Material Handling Safety Representative

• Provide oversight for the safe operation of aerial work platforms at Jefferson Lab.
• Provide standardized training and qualification for personnel to operate Jefferson Lab aerial work platforms.

· Concur with employee’s supervisor to provide authorization for using specific aerial work platforms.

• Maintain a list of aerial work platform operators.
• Verify equipment tests.
• Inspect subcontractor-provided equipment operating on the Jefferson Lab site to ensure it meets minimum safety standards.
• Provide requested assistance to building managers or supervisors regarding the inspection, operation, and maintenance of aerial work platforms, and assist in administering maintenance and repair contracts as needed.
• Coordinate Jefferson Lab material handling equipment safety inspections with the division head or designee.

The MHSR, in coordination with Human Resources & Services, conducts periodic aerial work platform operator classes for Jefferson Lab personnel, and special work platform safety orientation classes for subcontractors. The MHSR maintains operator certification and authorization records. Department Heads can request special training assistance.

Business Services Manager

Ensure that purchase orders for purchase or repair of material handling equipment or subcontractor aerial work platform jobs have received the approval of the Jefferson Lab MHSR prior to processing. Such equipment includes slings, cranes/hoists, forklifts, aerial work platforms, etc. It is the requester’s responsibility to obtain this concurrence.

Subcontracting Officer’s Technical Representative (SOTR)

The SOTR shall submit a request to schedule subcontractors to attend a special subcontractor aerial work platform operator safety orientation class to the MHSR. The request should be submitted as early as possible, and preferably not less than three weeks prior to start of work.

Training and Development

HR&S schedules classes and provides classroom support, maintains automated records of personnel training actions, and provides the MHSR with a copy of the class registration form reflecting the supervisor’s request for training. Medical Service staff provide medical evaluation and monitoring of employees who operate MHE.

Building managers or user/owners

Because proper maintenance is vitally important to safe use of aerial work platforms, the owners bear principal responsibility for maintaining aerial work platform equipment while it is in use within that building manager’s facility. The building manager works with the supervisor to ensure regular inspection, maintenance, and repair of all equipment when it is inside a facility, except as indicated at the beginning of this section. The MHSR assists the building manager and supervisor with safety inspections and assists in administering maintenance and repair contracts.

3.0 Qualifications

• All operators must have a valid state motor vehicle driver’s license (any class, from any state). Loss or suspension of a state license means loss or suspension of aerial work platform authorization.
• All operators must satisfactorily complete the Aerial Work Platform Operator class before being authorized to operate any aerial work platform. Jefferson Lab aerial work platform operators shall attend a refresher course at least once every two years to maintain valid certification.
• Operator training will include training and testing on operating practices and procedures and instruction on the purpose and function of each control.
• Operators must have sufficient knowledge of operating practices and procedures to detect incorrect or unsafe situations. Operators must correct any unsafe condition or procedure before continuing work.
• Operators must be thoroughly familiar with the equipment.
• Operators will receive special training prior to being authorized to operate aerial work platforms on the accelerator site and in the experimental halls.
• Successful completion of the basic aerial work platform operator class provides generic qualification for all Jefferson Lab aerial work platforms. In addition to training, specific permission to use the equipment must be obtained from the supervisor/owner.

4.0 Subcontractor Training

• Short-term subcontractor personnel must attend an aerial work platform safety orientation when Jefferson Lab provides the equipment.
• Multi-year service subcontractors operating aerial work platforms on Jefferson Lab controlled property must attend the regular aerial work platform class.
• Subcontractor personnel must also meet other Jefferson Lab requirements, i.e., Oxygen Deficiency Hazard (ODH), etc., if necessary, to operate aerial work platforms in entry-restricted areas. The period of authorization will normally be the term of their subcontract.
• When a subcontractor brings his own equipment, he or she must ensure that the subcontractor’s employees are qualified to use the subcontractor’s equipment on Jefferson Lab property. Subcontract specifications may include additional requirements.

Training

Before attending aerial work platform training personnel shall have:

· safety shoes

· hard hat

· current ODH and radiation qualification-unless work will clearly be restricted to other areas

· safety glasses

· full body safety harness

Medical/physical

• Operators must not be subject to acrophobia (unreasonable fear of heights).
• Persons whose performance may be influenced by medications, or who are subject to seizures, dizziness, or loss of physical control are not permitted to operate aerial work platforms.
• The Jefferson Lab Physician must certify that an employee is medically qualified to operate aerial work platforms. See ES&H Manual Chapter 6820 Medical Monitoring for more information.

Personnel under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not permitted on site

5.0 Program Summary

Only trained, qualified personnel may be authorized to operate aerial work platforms. This authorization requires the concurrence of the individual’s supervisor and the MHSR.

Purchase requisitions involving aerial work platforms

Concurrence must be obtained from the Jefferson Lab MHSR on requisitions for purchase, rentals, or repairs of aerial work platforms.

· Documentation for rental or subcontractor-provided aerial work platforms must meet the following certification requirements:

“Subcontractor will ensure that his or her equipment meets the requirements of OSHA and ANSI safety standards prior to operation on site. Subcontractor shall provide JSA/Jefferson Lab with a copy of recent inspection and/or testing documentation upon request.”

· Subcontracts for short-term subcontractors who operate Jefferson Lab aerial work platforms must specify the following:

“Subcontractors operating Jefferson Lab aerial work platforms will provide JSA/Jefferson Lab proof that their operators meet the qualifications of OSHA and ANSI. Subcontractor aerial work platform operators must attend a Jefferson Lab aerial work platform safety orientation (approximately 4 hours) prior to being authorized to operate any Jefferson Lab aerial work platforms. Subcontractors shall provide proof of liability insurance in the forms and amounts specified in their subcontracts.”

Aerial work platform use authorization

Qualified operators receive authorization to use an aerial work platform jointly from their supervisor and the MHSR. The MHSR maintains a list of authorized aerial work platform operators. The list identifies those operators authorized to operate aerial work platform in the specific locations listed below:-Accelerator site (within fenced area)-Inside the CHL, Building 8-Inside the ESR, Building 102-Inside Hall A, Building 101-Inside Hall B, Building 94-Inside Hall C, Building 96-Inside the Test Lab, Building 58-Other areas on site

· Operating aerial work platforms inside structures on the accelerator site requires extra caution because of the equipment exhaust fumes, the restricted work areas, the narrow passageways, and the potential of injury to workers and substantial damage to expensive equipment. Aerial work platform operators must use extreme caution when operating equipment in the end stations, CHL, and ESR.

ISSUING AUTHORITY	CHAPTER AUTHOR	APPROVAL DATE	EFFECTIVE DATE	EXPIRATION DATE	REV.
ESH&Q Division	Manny Nevarez	06/01/06	06/01/06	06/01/09	0

This document is controlled as an on line file. It may be printed but the print copy is not a controlled document. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that the document is the same revision as the current on line file. This copy was printed on 8/14/2009.