What a site needs before a boom lift arrives

Ground that can carry the load

A telescopic boom is heavy. The JLG 600S weighs 21,461 pounds and its sheet lists a maximum ground bearing pressure of 78 psi, which is roughly 11,000 pounds on each square foot under a tire. Electric scissor lifts concentrate weight too, with sheets listing 112 to 224 psi.

Concrete slabs, asphalt and compacted gravel usually carry that. Lawn, fill, a new utility trench and the slab over a basement may not. Houston sits on deep clays and floods, so a pad that was fine Monday can be soft after rain. Ask the owner or an engineer, not the yard, whether the surface can take the load. The height guide explains why the size you pick changes that load. Plywood, steel plates or mats spread the load, and the yard may ask for them.

Slopes and the stowed rating

Slope ratings describe driving, not working. One Genie articulating boom manual lists maximum slopes in the stowed position of 45% uphill, 40% downhill and 25% side slope for the four-wheel-drive version, and says the rating applies only to a machine in the stowed position. It adds that the rating depends on ground conditions and traction.

That manual also tells operators not to drive on or near uneven terrain, unstable surfaces or drop-offs with the boom raised. OSHA's aerial lift text adds that brakes must be set, outriggers sit on pads or solid surface, and wheel chocks go in before use on an incline.

Wind

The same Genie manual says not to raise the boom when winds may exceed 28 mph (12.5 m/s), and to lower the boom and stop if wind passes that while it is raised. It also says not to operate in strong or gusty winds, and not to add to the platform's surface area or load, since a panel or banner catches wind and lowers stability.

Limits differ by model and market, so read the plate and manual on the actual machine. Your crew's training and familiarization should include that manual. In Houston, plan for fronts and tropical weather. A spare day in the schedule costs less than a stopped crew.

Overhead power lines

This is the requirement people most often underestimate. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 752 bars a person from working anywhere they, or any tool, equipment or machine, can come within six feet of a high-voltage overhead line, unless the danger is guarded against under section 752.003. That section requires notifying the line's operator at least 48 hours before the work and reaching a mutual arrangement, such as temporary de-energizing, moving the line or installing barriers. The party doing the work pays the operator's actual expense. A violation is an offense with a fine of $100 to $1,000, up to a year in jail, or both.

OSHA's general-industry electrical rule is stricter on distance. For an unqualified person working in an elevated position, no part of the person or the longest conductive object they may touch can come closer than 10 feet to an unguarded energized line up to 50 kV, plus 4 inches for every 10 kV over 50. Construction work falls under other paragraphs, so ask the line operator for the minimum on your site. When two numbers apply, the larger one is the safer reading.

Never assume a line is dead. Include any overhead line near the work when you give the address to the yard.

Getting the machine in

Sizes decide access. Specification pages list 60-foot-class and 80-foot-class straight booms at 8 ft 2 in wide, a 40-foot-class electric articulating boom at 4 ft 11 in, and electric scissor lifts from about 30 to 46 inches. A JLG 600S has an inside turning radius of 9 ft 2 in and an outside radius of 19 ft 4 in with two-wheel steer. Compare those figures to your narrowest gate, door and turn, and compare prices in the cost guide once you know the size.

A trailer also needs overhead clearance and room to unload. Give the yard a contact name, gate hours and a photo of the entrance. For a build-out inside, measure doorways in inches and ask the owner about floor loading.

A short pre-delivery check

1. Is the pad firm, level and marked clear of trenches and irrigation lines?
2. Are there overhead lines within reach of the platform or boom? If so, call the operator now.
3. Is the wind forecast under the manual's limit on the work dates?
4. Does the route have a gate or door narrower than the machine?
5. Does the yard know about all of it? The first-time checklist lists what to say.

Common questions