Fall Arrest in an Articulating Boom
An arborist is working from a 45-ft articulating boom lift at 35 ft to prune an oak. The platform has a manufacturer anchor at floor level. The worker wears a full-body harness and uses a 6-ft shock-absorbing lanyard clipped to the anchor. The lanyard is long enough for the worker to step onto the midrail to reach a branch. There is no rescue plan, no adjacent lift, and no ladder long enough. The ground person has a cell phone. The worker says he has done it for years. The platform gate is closed but not latched. Wind is 8 mph. The manufacturer's manual permits fall restraint or fall arrest with an approved anchor and requires a rescue plan. The lanyard is not self-retracting and has no trauma straps.
1. Identify the fall-protection deficiencies and explain the difference between fall restraint and fall arrest in this platform.
Read the worked answer
The setup is fall arrest, not restraint, because the 6-ft lanyard permits the worker to step onto the midrail and potentially over the guardrail. A restraint system must be short enough to prevent the worker from reaching any fall hazard, including the top rail. Deficiencies: (1) the lanyard is too long for restraint; (2) the floor-level anchor may be rated for restraint only, not fall arrest; (3) a 6-ft shock-absorbing lanyard creates a long fall and swing-fall hazard; (4) the gate is unlatched; (5) no rescue plan; (6) no trauma straps. The manufacturer's manual permits fall arrest only with an approved anchor, likely a self-retracting lanyard. Corrective action: use a restraint lanyard adjusted so the worker cannot reach the rail, or a manufacturer-approved fall-arrest system with a self-retracting lanyard, and latch the gate.
2. If the worker falls and is suspended, what rescue options exist, and how do you sequence them? Include time-critical factors.
Read the worked answer
Rescue sequence: first secure the platform and call emergency services; then try to lower the platform using the ground controls if the machine is functional and a trained person is at the controls. If lowering is not possible, use an adjacent lift, a ladder truck, a crane with a man basket, or a trained aerial-rescue climber. Do not rely on 911 alone; suspension trauma can become critical within 10 to 15 minutes. Keep the worker conscious, instruct them to pump their legs and use trauma straps if equipped, and do not let an untrained coworker climb the boom. Establish a lower anchor and a mechanical advantage if a rope rescue is used. After rescue, provide medical evaluation. The plan should identify equipment, trained rescuers, and communication before the work starts.
3. What would a compliant plan look like before the next climb?
Read the worked answer
Compliant plan: written risk assessment and rescue plan; trained operator and rescuer on site; platform gate latched; harness fitted with a restraint lanyard that prevents reaching the guardrail, or an approved self-retracting lanyard and anchor for fall arrest; no stepping on rails; tools tethered; communication with the ground person; emergency contacts and GPS location. Verify the manufacturer's anchor rating and the lanyard's maximum fall distance. Brief the crew on stop-work authority and rescue roles. Check the wind and the platform's travel path. If the worker cannot reach the branch without climbing the rail, reposition the lift or use a pole saw from within the platform. Document the plan and the pre-use inspection.