Aerial and Specialized Apparatus Operations
Aerial work begins on the ground. Set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and fully deploy all outriggers onto pads or cribbing sized to spread the load. Check that the ground can bear the point loading: pavement over a vault, soft turf, and curbs are common failure points. Level the apparatus within the manufacturer's tolerance before raising the device, and keep everyone clear of the outrigger sweep. Treat the manufacturer's load chart as absolute law - tip load falls as extension and reach increase, and nozzle reaction from a master stream eats into that allowance.
During operations, keep the device clear of overhead wires; stay at least 10 feet from lines rated under 50 kV and farther for higher voltages. Position the tip at or slightly above the objective so personnel can step off safely, and remember that rated length is not vertical reach: a 75-foot aerial at a 70-degree angle reaches roughly 70 feet vertically. Keep the climbing angle in the comfortable range (about 65 to 75 degrees). Do not move the device while personnel are on it except in an emergency rescue, and never use an aerial as a crane.
Specialized apparatus - platforms, quints, heavy rescues, and tillered aerials - add their own inspection items, stabilization sequences, and driving characteristics such as off-tracking and tail swing. Traps: partial outrigger deployment, setting pads on soft ground, ignoring wire clearance, and overloading the tip with a master stream. Rule of thumb: if the load chart, the ground, or the wires are in doubt, do not raise the device.