Does a person in a boom truck with 4 ft. sides have to wear fall protection?
Your boom truck bucket has 4 ft sides, or 48 inches height wall, significantly above the 42-inch typical height. However, OSHA has not distinguished this feature to exempt users from using Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS). Guide: if user works with elbows beyond the edge and may step up on the internal framework, answer is yes. Also, bucket failure is becoming more common due to aging fleet of rental aerial lifts. More difficult is hydraulic piston sudden failure – here a PFAS may prevent being thrown onto the road for worse injuries. Note: always wear harnesses and shock absorbing lanyards – belt users may not survive the wait for rescue. For a more detailed answer send email photo and more precise question.
