Seeking Aerial Lift Training? We Would
Like To Give You A Bit
Of Perhaps Needed Inspiration Regarding
Lift
Bucket Repairs, Upgrades And Accessories To
Best Serve You And Your Equipment For The Long
Haul
If case this applies
to your
needs,
here's the best method
for this type of
admittedly
critical repair.
(This should
be of value even to those who were attracted to this page
by
Aerial Lift Training.
If this does not apply to you specifically we would ask that you find the most appropriate person in your organization to give this information to.)
First, There is a need to establish the very basic
requirements the for evaluating boom insulators, and what can distort the dielectric performance of the boom itself . The repair organization may
not be aware of it unless they are focused on this
particular type of evaluation and restoration process,
however there do exist formal standards issued by the government
on this type of device, for which repair practices must be
followed.
Second, we move to the physical strength of the entire
insulator structure since the primary function of the device is to lift
and control aerial loads. Specifically, how much
stress and strain they can withstand over time without
breaking down. With respect to this enclosed platform
that the rider controls and works from, and how it can be important to maintain a high
level of electrical separation, is still a
large part of the safety equation against personal shock.
It then becomes even more critical that a three-stage [inspection-repair-inspection] process must also
be included. The idea of having a conductive
bucket in situations where power line exposure is a
potential is not wise, and using a non-conductive personnel enclosure versus a wire or
other metalized platform may be a contingency. (An example may be routine tree trimming
or tree removal where at some point, the operator may be
exposed to electrical power sources. In this case it may
be wise to have the capability at all times.)
Third are the
mountings that make safe and make
secure the bucket to the boom. No slacking here
lest a potential decoupling of the lift
superstructure occur in the
future. (Again, if you were brought here by
researching Aerial Lift Training, and this does not apply directly to
your area of responsibility, please forward or deliver to the correct person in your maintenance or
management group.)
Looking at the situation from the most
responsible viewpoint possible, these are some of the
issues that this type of repair requires:
The requirements for insulating
capabilities of upper booms and lower boom insulators .
The level of tension and damage the insulators for the upper and lower boom can safely withstand without compromising their insulation properties.
While there are no formal
standards, the lift bucket itself does provide
electrical insulation, so a check of these properties is
an important part of the repair.
Correct boom-bucket mounting
procedure.
If You Are Already
Thinking About Aerial Lift Training, It Is A Short Step Over To An An Effective Evaluation Of Vendor Capabilities
So what capabilities are needed ? Here are some of the key ones to look
for:
Does the company carry product
liability insurance specifically for
doing aerial lift repair?
Have the
workers been adequately trained and experienced for this type of work,
with a bonified record of testing and/or
credentials
such as those proffered by the ACMA?
Also to be evaluated:
Aerial man lifts are a very
specialized subset of the fiberglass products industry.
Experience and knowledge of this applicaiton are
critical.
Insulation continuity
can be disturbed by the repair process itself. Therefore
a post-check must be performed, again by an approved
testing device that itself has been calibrated. This
of course presumes that Aerial Lift Training-related needs have
electrical insulation properties. If you are unsure,
the official owners manual is a great place to start
checking.
Moving
Away From Aerial Lift Training: How Repairs Can And Should
Unfold
It is
often helpful to understand where and how these
challenges may come about. We have listed what you
might say are a bit sanitized versions of encounters from
our own experience. A competent process would
embody most of the illustrations that follow.
Just Doing Your Job May Mean Taking A Bit Of Extra
Time
Scenario: The repair facility is shipped the
upper boom section for basic rehab . Most shops should include a cleaning, particularly if there is noticeable dirt buildup inside
the actual boom. This enables correct dielectric
testing, following recommended
procedures. If problems crop up, further
physical/electrical testing operations should be done with
such equipment as a conductivity meter and/or an
ultrasonic tester. Problems should be noted for later
review with the owner. The boom
should be inspected to see if any type of cracks or dents or if it has suffered any type of noticeable harm. The specifications for that particular boom section
should be consulted directly from the lift platform
OEM and the
damage evaluated against those guidelines. If there
are specific remedies suggested by those
guidelines that may require extra effort, the
customer should be consulted. Structural testing is next. If it
withstands this test and no other issues are found, a
final waxing to protect the boom should occur.
It should then be sealed and protected for shipping.
The right diagnostic
approach:
Strip away
protective coatings that could form a block of any type of structural malformations.
Internal and external visual and
sometimes touch inspection.
Check of
manufacturer dictates for proper repair.
Can it be repaired back
to factory spec?
Repair using approved means
to increase overall strength and appropriate
material adhering properties.
Stress testing to required standards.
Electrical
testing.
Putting a protective and visually
appealing coating and perhaps identity
on.
Make sure
the item is carefully protected for delivery.
Potentially Unfortunate Outcomes
There are not a lot of backup
systems with a bucket style lift mechanism, and that
goes double with the
attachment of the boom to the bucket itself. There are
various ways that this main support can be
accomplished. In this case:
The main attachment
was accomplished through threaded rods that are in
effect integrated into the side of the bucket.
It was clear
that there were fissures in the fiberglass
layering that surrounded and supported
these mounting rods.
Without even checking
further it is apparent that no amount of
reinforcement would likely return this
conveyance to a safe operating position.
When The Basic Bonding Gives Way
While the
owner ultimately makes the call as to repair, they
depend on expert repair depots to
provide the advice on how successful the operation may
be. In effect the risk management falls on whoever
at the customer is managing this function. So here is
a piece of advice we gave.
First we noted that the
fiberglass lift platforms can sometimes be attached by
creating an assembly out of the actual fiberglass. It is possible, as in this case, that layers of resin and the glass strands gaps or stress lines where material has pulled apart can form weakness. And finally, under
this scenario, it is difficult to
ensure that the further damage won't occur. Therefore, an
expert in this area would
recommend replacement.
Now You Can Have A Bucket Or
Similar Item For Repair That Has Cosmetic Damage And
Yet Remains Remarkably Sound Otherwise
A fiberglass lift platform comes into this particular shop:
1. The
mount side is not damaged, but the front corners are
cracked through.
2. The
repairer should determine whether the customer just wants
the bucket repaired structurally or wants the bucket to
also be refinished to a like-new condition. In most
cases, the latter option is chosen.
3. An
estimate is made first, the
customer needs to express their wishes and wants back
first, and then the appropriate repair action should
be taken.
Tags: Aerial Lift Training
