What to Do if Your Aerial Lift Stops Working

*Notice: If you experience any issues or problems with any equipment rented from MacAllister Rentals, please call our service team at (877) 700-1945 for immediate help.

What started as a typical day can quickly change if the equipment you’re using stops working. That’s the case if an aerial lift breaks while in the air or before you begin the job.

If your aerial lift is not working, the first thing to do is not panic. Then, remember safety precautions and ensure they’re in place. You want to protect everyone on the site, whether they’re in the lift or on the ground.

Jump to Section:

Why Would an Aerial Lift Not Work?
How to Prevent an Aerial Lift Problem
What to Do if Aerial Lift Breaks While Using It
Schedule Repairs for a Broken Aerial Lift
Consider Renting an Aerial Lift
Aerial Lift Safety Tips and Reminders
MacAllister Rentals Can Help

Here’s what you can do if you’re dealing with a broken aerial lift and how you can keep a lift from breaking in the first place.

Why Would an Aerial Lift Not Work?

An aerial lift can stop working for several reasons:

Limited or no power to the lift: If the power to the lift suddenly gets cut or doesn’t have enough voltage, it may stop working unexpectedly.
No fuel: A lift needs fuel to operate. If fuel levels are low at the start of the project and not replenished, the lift could run out of fuel in the middle of the day.
Muddy or wet conditions: Wet conditions or mud can make it tough to maneuver the lift. It could get stuck in the mud.
System malfunction: A component of the lift could stop working, which could cause the entire piece of equipment to malfunction.
Contaminated fluid: Lifts operate using a hydraulic system. If the hydraulic fluid becomes contaminated with dirt or debris, it thickens and can’t flow freely. Without free-flowing fluid, the lift parts dry out, causing friction and wear. Over time, contaminated fluid can lead to a breakdown.
The load is too heavy: Lifts have maximum load capacities. If there is too much weight in the lift’s basket, it can stop working.

How to Prevent an Aerial Lift Problem

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to your aerial lift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strongly recommends having a pre-use procedure that involves a thorough lift inspection. In addition to inspecting the lift before use, you must only allow adequately trained individuals to operate it.

Always Perform a Pre-Use Inspection

A pre-start inspection should be part of the process before every lift operation.

This review confirms that the lift and its components are safe and functioning properly. Use the manufacturer’s recommendations as a guide, and check the following components:

Fluid levels: Confirm the lift contains the proper levels of fuel, brake fluid, coolant and hydraulic fluid.
Leaks: Ensure there aren’t any leaks in any fluids.
Wheels: Make sure the wheels are aligned and the tires are fully inflated. Check for leaks in the tires.
Battery and charger: Test the battery to verify it’s fully charged, and test that the charger works properly.
Controls: Make sure the controls operate correctly.
Horns and alarms: Test the horn and any other alarms to confirm they sound.
Lights: Check that all the lights work.
Steering: Test the steering to be sure it works and handles appropriately.
Brakes: Make sure the brakes work.
Emergency controls: Ensure the emergency controls work and respond appropriately.
Electrical system: Test that the electrical system works properly.
Fuel system: Inspect the fuel system to ensure it’s functioning.
Hydraulic, pneumatic and air systems: Test and inspect the hydraulic, pneumatic and air systems.
Warning labels and control markings: Ensure all warning labels are intact and visible. Also, check the control markings.
Cables and harnesses: Inspect the harnesses and cables to ensure they are in good condition. Check for fraying and signs of wear.
Safety gear and personal protective equipment (PPE): Ensure all the safety equipment and PPE are available. Inspect it for signs of damage or wear.
Insulating components: Check the insulating components, looking for signs of wear.
Mechanical fasteners: Make sure the fasteners and pins close correctly. Inspect for signs of wear.
Outriggers and stabilizers: Ensure that the outriggers are secure and fully stabilize the lift.
Guardrail system: Make sure the guardrail is intact and stable.
Missing or loose parts: Check for any loose or missing parts.

If the inspection turns up any issues, don’t operate the lift. Take the lift out of service until it’s repaired.

Inspect the Work Area Before Use

In addition to inspecting the aerial lift before use, you should also inspect the area around it.

Poor conditions can contribute to a lift malfunction. Things to look for include:

Uneven or unstable surfaces: Holes or sudden drop-offs can interfere with lift operation, as can loose soil or dirt.
Low ceiling heights: If the ceiling is too low, it can be challenging to use the lift properly.
Slopes or ditches: Lifts can tip over if used on sloped surfaces. They can also fall into ditches.
Debris or obstructions on the ground or floor: Obstructions on the ground or floor, such as pipes, tools, trash or boxes, can interfere with the lift’s operation. Debris and obstructions can also create safety hazards.
Overhead lines and cables: Overhead lines and cables can interfere with the operation of the lift and put workers at risk.
Other obstructions overhead: Other overhead obstacles, such as tree branches, also present a hazard.
Weather conditions: A lift can malfunction in wet or windy conditions. Bad weather conditions are also hazardous.
People nearby: People on the ground can interfere with a lift’s operation. They can also be at risk if the lift gets stuck or tips over. Create a clear zone around the lift and ensure people know not to enter it.

Only Let Trained Individuals Use the Lift

Operating a lift requires care and precision. Only allow people who have completed a thorough training program to drive the lift or use it.

An appropriate training program should include the following:

A thorough description of hazards: Lift operators need to know what the hazards are when using an aerial lift, including the risk of falls, falling objects and electrical dangers.
Ways to manage hazards: A trained operator should know how to respond to a hazard.
A description of unsafe conditions: Lift operators also need to know how to recognize hazardous working conditions and what to do in response to those conditions.
Instructions for using the lift: A thorough training program needs to include instructions on using the lift properly. Those instructions should detail the load capacity and the maximum intended load.
A thorough demo of using the lift: Training should include a demonstration of how the lift operates and the skills needed to use the lift. Trainees should see the demo before operating a lift on their own.
How to perform an inspection: Trained operators should know how to perform inspections and that they need to inspect a lift before every use.
Manufacturer’s information: Since different lift manufacturers often have additional operating requirements, training should focus on a particular manufacturer and include information from that company.

Use the Lift Appropriately

After performing the pre-use inspection and inspecting the area around the lift, the lift operator should use the lift appropriately to minimize the chance of any issues coming up.

Appropriate use means:

Not overloading the lift: Any people, materials and equipment should not exceed the capacity limits. Carrying a load that’s too heavy can cause the lift to malfunction.
Not carrying too-large objects: Additionally, the lift operator should ensure that the objects in the lift buckets don’t hang off the sides or stick out too far over the top.
Not driving the lift with the platform raised: The platform should be lowered when the lift is in motion.
Not exceeding height limits: The operator should not go above the lift’s horizontal or vertical height limits.
Ensuring every person in the bucket wears a harness: Every person in the lift’s bucket needs to wear a harness and be securely fastened to the bucket to prevent falls.
Ensuring the gates are closed: The gate or opening in the bucket needs to be firmly shut before operating the lift.
Not overriding safety features: The lift’s safety features are there for a reason. The operator shouldn’t override them.
Not using the lift in high winds: High winds create a hazardous situation. A lift operator should wait to use the lift or stop using the lift if windy conditions develop.
Avoiding overhead obstructions: When using the lift, the operator should steer clear of overhead obstructions such as power lines or tree branches. The lift should be 10 feet away from power and communication lines. Also, power lines should be de-energized before the lift is used.
Using outriggers and brakes appropriately: The outriggers need to be placed on a solid, level surface. The brakes also need to be in place when using the outriggers.
Setting up cones and warning signs: Cones and signs should be set up around the aerial lift to warn passersby or workers of its operation. The cones also create a safety zone where people shouldn’t pass.

What to Do if Aerial Lift Breaks While Using It

There might be instances when an aerial lift breaks even after a thorough inspection and even with a trained person operating it. In that situation, knowing what to do is critical. Follow these steps.

Double check your safety gear: Think safety first if a lift stops working. Anyone in the lift bucket needs to check that their safety gear is fully attached. The fall harness needs to be on their body and attached to the correct anchorage point in the platform. The person in the bucket should also check that their helmet is on securely. After verifying the security of the safety gear and harness, take a deep breath. The most important thing to do is remain calm.
Communicate with the ground: Everyone on the worksite should be informed of the issue. A broken aerial lift affects the people on the platform, the person in the driver’s seat and the other workers on the ground. Ground crew should be notified to keep a clear distance from the lift. If it tips over, you don’t want anyone to be in its path.
Check the power and fuel: The next step is to confirm that the lift has fuel and a power source. Even with a pre-start inspection, something can go wrong with the fuel supply. The lift might have had a leak that wasn’t detectable during the inspection but caused all the fuel to drain away. Or, an issue with the battery could have caused the lift to lose power faster than expected. You can try to troubleshoot the lift to find a way to lower it or get it moving again.
Wait for assistance: Call for help and wait for it to arrive, if necessary. Depending on the situation, you might need to call for emergency assistance. That’s particularly true if you’re working near power lines or other hazardous materials.

Schedule Repairs for a Broken Aerial Lift

If a lift breaks or doesn’t pass inspection, don’t use it again until it’s been repaired. Lift repair isn’t a do-it-yourself project. You must have a trained professional service and repair the lift to ensure that all goes well.

The type of repair you need depends on whether you can move the lift or not. If necessary, you might need to schedule a field repair, meaning the technician travels to the scene of the malfunction to diagnose and attempt to fix the lift.

If you can move the lift or discover the issue during an inspection, shop service is an option. Shop service means you bring the lift to a shop for inspection and repair. Depending on the problem, the technicians may do any the following to fix the lift:

Service the engine: If the engine is the issue, a technician can tune it or overhaul it, depending on the need.
Replace fluids: Shop technicians can also replace dirty or viscous fluids and correct leaks.
Replace parts: Technicians can replace worn-out components and parts.
Update equipment: If your lift is older, it might have outdated hardware or software. A repair shop can update the lift, improving its overall function.
Fabricate parts: Depending on the situation, the shop might need to fabricate components to fix the lift.
Service the hydraulics: If the hydraulic system is the problem, the conditions need to be just right to fix it. A clean shop provides the correct environment for restoring or replacing a hydraulic system.

Consider Renting an Aerial Lift

If you need an aerial lift while yours is in the shop, renting is an option. Renting an aerial lift means you can avoid downtime and still get your project completed on time. There are other reasons to consider renting, rather than owning, an aerial lift:

Rental lifts are well-maintained: When you rent a lift, you can rest assured that it’s been fully serviced and has undergone thorough preventive maintenance. You don’t have to worry about setting up a maintenance schedule, as the lift owner will have seen to it.
Rental lifts have low hours: Renting lifts gives you access to newer models and models with low hours, meaning you aren’t stuck using an old, beat-up piece of equipment.
Service is available: If something does happen to a rented lift, you can rest assured that service is available. Depending on the situation, field or shop service might be available. While you wait for the rental to be fixed, you can use another rented lift.
Wide selection of lifts: Buying an aerial lift can be limiting. Perhaps you only have the budget for one piece of equipment, but a single style of lift likely won’t work for all your projects. When you rent, you can change your lifts as needed. Once one rental ends, you can rent a different lift if necessary.

Aerial Lift Safety Tips and Reminders

Whether you rent or buy a lift, it’s essential to keep safety at the front of your mind. Thinking safety first will help you avoid a breakdown and keep every member of your team safe.

Always inspect the lift and conditions: A pre-start inspection is a must before using the lift every time. That means you should check the lift first before starting the day’s work. Be prepared to make adjustments to your schedule if anything is amiss.
Only work with trained operators: The only people who should use the lift are those who’ve completed a certified training program. Additionally, it’s crucial to have operators review or repeat training periodically to ensure they use the lift appropriately.
Keep an eye on the weather: Weather can change quickly. It’s essential to adjust and adapt to hazardous conditions. If a lightning storm is predicted, don’t use the lift outdoors that day. The same is true on windy days or when there’s heavy rain or snow.
Use the proper fall protection equipment: Workers in the bucket or platform need to have the right personal fall arrest system (PFAS). They should have a full-body harness, and the lanyard attached to the harness shouldn’t be longer than 6 feet. If they fall out of the bucket, the PFAS should keep them from contacting a lower surface.
Don’t lean on the guardrails: People using the lift or in the bucket should know not to lean on or sit on the guardrails. They should stand in the center of the bucket or platform with their feet firmly planted on the floor.
Keep people away from the lift: Keep an area around the lift clear of passersby and other workers to minimize the risk of being crushed if the lift should tip over.
Have a contact tree: Workers should know who to call if there’s trouble with the lift. For example, they might call a supervisor first, then emergency personnel second. If the lift is rented, they should contact the rental company to arrange repairs.
Don’t leave the lift platform elevated: The platform shouldn’t be in the air when you aren’t using the lift. Ensure that it’s lowered after every use.

Rent an Aerial Lift From MacAllister Rentals

MacAllister Rentals has aerial lifts available for rent at locations throughout Michigan’s lower peninsula and Indiana. We can help you choose the right lift for the job. Our rental protection program minimizes your responsibility if something should go wrong with the lift. Contact us today to learn more about our rental options.