Month: January 2021

Operating an aerial device or digger derrick without training could put you and others at risk of serious injury or death. Proper training is the first step to becoming a safe operator.

According to ANSI standards, being properly trained means, you’ve had general training for a category of equipment, and you’ve been familiarized with the specific units you operate. General training and familiarization are the two major requirements for operator training.

Think of general training as getting a driver’s license. You met the basic safety requirements, but general training doesn’t mean you can safely operate any vehicle. You still need to be familiar with, and proficient at operating each specific vehicle before heading out on the road.  If you’ve ever tried to find the air conditioning controls while driving an unfamiliar car, you’ve already experienced the need for familiarization.

For aerial devices and digger derricks, ANSI standards list five steps for familiarization:

1. Operator’s Manual Location — You need to learn where the operator’s manual is stored, because it’s the key to understanding the unit, and you’ll need it for the next three steps.

2. Read and Understand the Manufacturer’s Warnings and Instructions – The operator’s manual and unit placards list safety warnings, instructions, inspection requirements, capacity information and other details which are critical to safe operation.

3. Learn the Purpose and Function of All Controls – To safely operate, you’ll need to know why and how each control works. Be sure to check the operator’s manual if you have any questions about operating your equipment. This is another great reason to keep the operator’s manual nearby while you learn about the unit.

4. Learn the Specific Safety and Operating Characteristics of the Unit – This includes set up, leveling, load capacity charts, protection and interlock systems, just to name a few. Don’t assume that similar-looking units have the same operating characteristics.

5. Become Proficient in the Operation of Your Equipment – Spend enough time to become safe and competent at using the controls, to help protect yourself and others from injury.

A qualified person must familiarize you with each unit you operate. If you’re already qualified, the person in charge of the unit may authorize you to self-familiarize, using the five steps listed above.

Safe operators don’t take shortcuts in training. Instead, they take the time to fully understand any unit they operate. This makes their jobsites safer, for everyone.

Visit Altec Sentry’s website to access operator safety and maintenance courses. For questions about Sentry training or to register for a class, email sentrypost@altec.com.

Paramount Service & Maintenance is a lights and signs company based in Miami, Florida. The company installs and services everything from signs to exterior, interior and security lighting.

Eric Ribe, Account Manager for Paramount Service, says the Altec equipment his company uses every day is designed specifically for their needs, allowing them to perform a variety of jobs for customers throughout the busy Miami area.

Eric and his team rely on Altec’s LS49 to install and service lighting with maximum use and efficiency. Designed for the lights and signs industry for both installation and maintenance, the LS49 is a non-insulating two-stage telescopic aerial device with a working height of 49 feet and a side reach of 41 feet. The state-of-the-art innovative platform has 600 pounds of platform capacity and 180 degrees of platform rotation.

“There’s not a job that we can’t do with the trucks, from 30-foot signs, pole lights, exterior signs, canopy signs, we do it all,” Ribe said.

The LS49 features a short jacking outrigger capability coupled with a minimum 19,500 pound GVWR chassis. This helps operators keep a small working footprint while still maintaining a large working envelope. This unit is ideal for crews working in tight spaces that need versatility and flexibility at the jobsite.

For Paramount Service, this feature is exactly what is needed to find ways to work efficiently in the tight spaces of Miami streets. The sign and lighting crew depends on the LS49 and its smaller chassis to get in and out of cramped areas.

Nathan Soccaras, Equipment Operator at Paramount Service, says the outrigger setup on the LS49 is a feature that stands out at the jobsite.

When it comes to efficiency and ease of use, Soccarras said the outrigger setup is “very fast for service and maintenance.”

In addition to the LS49’s smaller frame and easy outrigger setup, the LS49 adds value to Paramount Service’s daily operations by eliminating the need for operators acquiring a CDL license.

Socarras compares the features and operation of the LS49 to having a good set of tools that are precisely what you need to get a job done.

“When you have the right tool for each job, with these trucks, you can do so much and have so much capability that you’re unstoppable,” Socarras said.

Are you interested in seeing what the LS49 can do for your lights and signs business? Call 800-958-2555 or contact an Altec representative online.