Articulating Boom Aerial Platform Accidents

Articulating booms, also sometimes referred to as knuckle booms or up-and-over booms, have an aerial platform with multiple boom sections that articulate or hinge, allowing the boom operator to access areas that are more difficult due to obstacles or barriers. Though articulating booms with aerial platforms are more efficient and safer than ladders in many situations, they can also pose serious dangers when not used properly.

If you have been injured in an articulating boom aerial platform accident, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

Dangers of Articulating Boom Aerial Platforms 

All aerial lifts come with a variety of hazards and workers are required by the Federal agency, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to be properly trained and certified before they are legally permitted to operate or work with such equipment on the job site. Improper training can lead to severe, even fatal, accidents. 

The most common types of hazards that can cause articulating boom aerial platform accidents:

• Contact with other objects
• Entanglement
• Electrocution
• Ceiling contact
• Falls from the lift
• Structural collapse
• Object collapse/tip-overs caused by the lift 

Employee Training for Aerial Lifts

 OSHA mandates that anyone operating an articulating boom aerial platform, or any other aerial lift, to receive proper training. This includes manufacturer details, such as the equipment’s maximum capacity, how to perform inspections, explanations of all possible hazards, plans for dealing with hazards, training to avoid unsafe conditions, as well as instructions and demonstrations on how to properly operate the lift.

 If an accident should occur while the articulating boom aerial platform is in use, or hazards are discovered in connection with the lift, all lift operators must be retrained. Also, if an employer asks an employee to operate a lift they are not trained to operate, or an employee is observed operating a lift improperly or unsafely, the worker is to be retrained for that piece of machinery. An employer may be held liable if an accident occurs due to improper employee training.

 Articulating boom aerial platform accidents may also occur due to a defective design in the machinery or a part of that equipment. In the event that a defect in design or manufacturing was the cause of an accident, the product designer, manufacturer, and/or anyone involved in the chain of distribution could be held liable for damages that their product caused.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to negligence on the job site or a defective product, an experienced personal injury lawyer can review your claim and determine if there were unsafe working conditions, potential OSHA violations, and other hazards that may have existed at the time of your accident. They will also determine who may be liable for your injuries and damages and what compensation you may be entitled to.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 1,000 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 135 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.