How Often Do Aerial Lifts Need to be Inspected?

Your aerial lift is a complex piece of machinery. As a result, regular inspections are required to ensure safety for your operators. Not to mention – it’s recommended by ANSI and your manufacturer.

ANSI standards (ANSI/SIA 92.6-1999) state that routine inspections should be performed frequently, as well as annually. You may be asking yourself, “how often is frequently?” and “what exactly is being inspected?”.

Watch the video below for a quick review of aerial lift inspections. For more in-depth information, keep reading!

We’ll breakdown when your aerial lift should be inspected, clarify the inspection itself, and give you our recommendations. Here’s everything you need to know about aerial lift inspections.

Frequent Aerial Lift Inspections

The term “frequent” might be a little unclear. According to Genie, these inspections must be performed if:

• The aerial lift was bought used (unless the aerial lift in question has up-to-date inspections).
• Your aerial lift has been in service for 3 months or 150 hours (whichever comes first).
• Or if your equipment has been out of service for more than 3 months.

Only a mechanic or technician qualified on the like make and model of aerial lift can perform the inspection.

Annual Aerial Lift Inspections

Annual aerial lift inspections must be performed no later than 13 months from the date of the last annual inspection. Note: often the most recent date of inspection is posted on the aerial lift.

Similar to a “frequent inspection”, your annual aerial lift inspection must be conducted by a person qualified as a mechanic on the like make and model of aerial platform.

Areas of inspection are specified by the manufacturer, so they may vary. In general, the technician will test and inspect a variety of machine functions including:

• All functions and controls for speed, smoothness, and limits of motion
• Lower controls including provisions for overriding of upper controls
• All lifting mechanisms for adjustments, wearing, and damage
• All emergency and safety devices
• Lubrication of all moving parts, inspection of filter elements, hydraulic oil, engine oil, coolant (each as specified by manufacturer)
• Visual inspection of structural components and other critical components such as fasteners, pins, shafts and locking devices
• Placards, warnings and control markings
• Emergency lowering devices
• Other manufacturer specified items specific to your lift.

Afterwards, your man lift cannot be put into service until any problems discovered during the inspection have been corrected.

Our Recommendations

If your building isn’t tall enough to accommodate the full height of your aerial lift, the inspector will have to bring the lift outside to reach full height. As the weather and terrain outside may not be suitable for an inspection during the winter months, we recommend you get your aerial lift inspection done in late spring, summer, or early fall.

With that said, check your records and schedule an inspection with your aerial lift dealer if necessary.

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