Aerial Lifts Definition

According to OSHA, an aerial lift is defined as any vehicle-mounted device used to elevate personnel, including the following:

• Extendable boom platforms
• Articulating boom platforms
• Aerial ladders
• Vertical towers
• Any combination of the above

Aerial lifts are sometimes referred to as man lifts. Aerial lifts are typically manufactured from metal or fiberglass-reinforced plastic, and they are generally used for temporary and flexible work access. They have replaced ladders and scaffolding on many jobsites because of their mobility.

Aerial lifts may be either powered or manually operated. Because aerial lifts are designed for temporary work, many of them are mounted on vehicles.

To learn more about Aerial Lifts visit our OSHA Aerial Boom Lift Safety Online Training web page.