Working at a height comes with many potential dangers, and choosing the right equipment is crucial to ensure the job is completed safely. Many options are available to help when working at a height; traditional ladders, access platforms, scissor lifts, van mounts and cherry pickers. All of these solutions ensure jobs at height can be completed both efficiently and safely.
WHAT IS A CHERRY PICKER?
Let’s talk about cherry pickers; don’t worry, they do a lot more than the name suggests! Their original purpose was, indeed, to pick fruit from orchards. They’re a mobile elevating work platform (MWEP); they provide height and horizontal reach. They work in situations where simple ladders or scissor lifts don’t. Cherry pickers can help workers access different parts of a building, providing maximum flexibility without any need for static scaffolding!
THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT
All work at height must be planned, supervised, and carried out by competent operators. This is within the 2005 Work At Height Regulations, which all workers at height must follow to ensure ultimate safety. The correct type of equipment must be chosen depending on several elements; The tasks’ nature to be carried out, the height, access & space restrictions, terrain, and any nearby objects that could cause obstruction. When hiring equipment to assist working at a height, having a fully trained operator present is required.
SITUATIONS WHERE YOU SHOULD HIRE A CHERRY PICKER
ROOFING
Whether installing a new roof or carrying out simple repairs, hiring a cherry picker when doing roof work can be a massive help! It makes access easier and removes the need for traditional static scaffolding.
PROPERTY SURVEYING
Surveying tasks such as cladding inspections require workers to be at a height for long periods. Cherry pickers provide height and horizontal reach, meaning large areas of the property can be looked at without moving the cherry picker.
TREE SURGERY
Often, the terrain when completing tree surgery means traditional, simple ladders are not suitable. Cherry pickers work well on different terrains, making the process a lot easier!
PROPERTY EXTERIOR CLEANING
From window cleaning to roof cleaning, cherry pickers make jobs like that much easier thanks to the height and horizontal reach they provide. Repairing and cleaning gutters will also be more straightforward; no more worries about your ladder slipping mid-project!
DECORATING WORKS
Painting and decorating is a time-consuming, tricky job. It can get messy, and moving a ladder around constantly is a pain! Cherry pickers provide horizontal and vertical reach; you’ll be able to paint those walls in no time.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A FULLY TRAINED OPERATOR PRESENT!
Here at Target Maintenance, we have a team of trained, qualified operators who can assist you with working at a height. We will assess your needs and decide which equipment suits you best; we have a range of access platform machines available. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, we will have an access machine ideal for your specific project. Contact us today to find out more!
