Danielle Wright, President, Right Choice Construction ~
“Our mission as a Houston-area general contractor is to provide operational safety training for our team. Our commitment to safety includes onboarding, weekly safety meetings, and worksite oversight to achieve superior project results — on time, on budget, and with a keen eye on safety measures!”
The Right Choice Construction Safety Management System
Construction safety is Job One at Right Choice — during National Construction Safety Week (May 2–6) and year-round.
We offer a range of design and build solutions for commercial, industrial, and warehouse projects which may require heavy equipment. To commemorate Construction Safety Week this year, we’ve focused this blog post on the topic of aerial lift training. Our Environmental Safety / Health Program and our safety manager ensure our training conforms to all OSHA requirements.
From the largest projects to the smallest, Right Choice focuses on safe worksite practices.
This week, the United States Department of Labor is focused on a “National Safety Stand-Down“ to prevent falls in construction this year. We stand with the stand-down and are providing additional safety training to support this initiative, especially when it comes to preventing falling from aerial lifts.
Aerial Lift Construction Safety
- Aerial lifts may be “field modified” for uses other than those intended by the manufacturer provided the modification has been certified in writing by the manufacturer or by an equivalent entity.
- Lift controls shall be tested each day prior to use to determine that such controls are in safe working conditions. Tests shall be made at the beginning of each shift during which the equipment is to be used to determine that the brakes and operating systems are in proper working condition.
- Only authorized persons shall operate an aerial lift and boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded.
- Aerial lifts shall have a working back-up alarm audible above the surrounding noise level or the vehicle is backed up only when an observer (spotter) signals that it is safe to do so.
- The minimum clearance between electrical lines and any part of the equipment (i.e. crane or load) shall be 10 feet for lines rated 50 kV or below.
- Employees shall always stand firmly on the floor of the basket, and shall not sit or climb on the edge of the basket or use planks, ladders, or other devices for a work position.
- An approved fall restraint system shall be worn when working from an aerial lift. The fall restraint system must be attached to the boom or basket. An approved fall restraint system shall be attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift and it is not permitted to be attached to adjacent poles or structures.
- All employees who operate an aerial lift device shall be trained in the safe operation of the specific device
Toobox Talks — Safety is Part of Our Culture
Our weekly “Toolbox Talks” is a commitment to our crew and, ultimately, our customers. Our goal is a safe worksite with highly trained workers who understand safety protocols. Read more about this initiative here.
Our industry-standard safety procedures meet and exceed compliance required by OSHA and are further guided by insurance and workforce recommendations. Worksite safety best practices include heavy equipment operation, risk mitigation, and adherence to local, state, and federal regulations and permitting requirements.