Ground Condition Evaluation Important to Aerial Device Setup
A recent article from Terex Utilities, published by Safety + Health magazine, assesses the environmental factors affecting aerial device setup. Conducting a site survey and evaluating ground conditions are two important tasks for identifying hazards that could impact proper setup.
First, Jim Olson, Senior Product Engineer for Terex Utilities, states: “It may also be necessary to use ground protection mats or create an access road to provide travel routes for aerial devices and other trucks.”
We agree, AlturnaMATS ground production mats are a proven solution that fits this need. They are lightweight, easy to use, help prevent damage caused by heavy equipment and provide traction to get you where you need to go.
Olson continues, “Next, evaluate the ground conditions. The ground must be firm enough to support the pressure produced by the bucket truck, including the maximum platform and jib loads, during operation. Use pads under the outriggers to distribute the weight over a greater surface area.”
As a basic practice, any device or equipment equipped with stabilizers or outriggers should use properly sized outrigger pads for every setup to establish stability and distribute concentrated pressures over a larger area.
Using engineered outrigger pads, blocking and cribbing increases safety, provides consistent reliable performance, protects equipment, and reduces costs for utility fleets.
See our Outrigger Pad Safe Handling Guidelines for more information regarding the use of supporting materials and details on how to assess and improve the ground prior to equipment operations.