For most people, choosing a career working at soaring heights is not at the top of their list. Like most blue collar jobs, this type of employment is labor intensive. Unlike many other such vocations, the jobsite for this type of work is located many feet above the ground. Despite the dangers associated with this type of job, someone needs to do it. After all, most vital utilities that people use, such as electricity, cable and internet, for the most part are transmitted via overhead lines.

There are many things that could go wrong when working in an aerial bucket truck. An average bucket has a maximum working height of 40 to 60 feet and even the slightest error could result in a serious injury or fatality.

• Falling - One of the most common dangers in this industry is falling. Although an employee is situated inside the bucket during the lift’s operation, there are times when workers lose their balance and fall, especially when the lift is moving into position. All too often, the cause of fall is sheer carelessness. Tools and equipment improperly placed at the bottom of the bucket can cause workers to trip and lose their balance. In some cases, workers may try to extend the reach of the lift by using ladders and planks resulting in a fall.

• Electrocution – Electrocution is another danger involving aerial bucket trucks. Ironically, most incidents that involve electrocution are rarely with utility workers. Rather, the highest numbers of employees who are electrocuted are those who perform tree trimming. Workers who are electrocuted are usually those who skip a very crucial safety guideline - checking the area for safety hazards, including overhead electrical lines.

• Tipping - Tipping is also a potential danger when using an aerial bucket truck. The vehicle is equipped with features that prevent tipping, such as outriggers that serve as the vehicle’s foundation during the lift operation and a tilt meter that is used to measure the truck’s inclination perpendicular to the operating surface. The misuse and failure to implement the vehicle’s tilt protection features could cause the truck to tip over. Some of the common causes of tipping are: moving the vehicle while the lift is extended; overloading the bucket; and deploying the lift on a steep slope.

• Traffic - Another danger of operating a bucket truck is collision with nearby traffic. Many aerial jobs are performed next to busy roads. In these cases, the vehicle has to occupy a portion of the road to position the equipment. Although there are safety guidelines for this type of operation, such as installing visible road signs, some employees disregard the need to install proper warning devices. They are then unnoticeable by oncoming traffic and prone to collision.

Although there are many risks involving aerial bucket trucks, there are also safety guidelines set by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to reduce the likelihood of such accidents. Before operating an aerial bucket truck, every worker should first undergo thorough training as prescribed by OSHA to learn the specifics of operating this equipment. Although the job of working as an employee in this vehicle is a potentially dangerous occupation, avoiding these dangers and staying safe while on the job is just a matter of following the guidelines set forth by OSHA. Don’t let anyone become an aerial bucket truck accident statistic!