BoomTrucksBoomTrucks•Boomtrucksareusedinavarietyofwaysthroughouttheconstructionindustry.•Theyprovideeasytransportationandinstallationofmaterials,speedingupdeliveriesandreducingprojectschedules.BoomTrucks•Theversatilityandmaneuverabilityofboomtrucksmakethemtheidealsolutiontomanyconstructionproblems.•However,greatcareshouldstillbetakentoensureboomtrucksareusedsafely.HistoryofBoomTrucks•Boomtruckshavebeenaroundforover50yearsandhaveevolvedfromthebasictowingtruckwithlimitedcapacitytolargepiecesofequipmentthatcaneasilyliftmorethan40tons.•Theirelectricalsystemshavealsoimproved,nowprovidingthecontrollerwithaccurateloadingcapacitiesandlimitations.Source:RoadsideAmerica.comHistoryofBoomTrucks•Whilethefirstboomtruckswereoperatedfromeitherwithinthetruckoralongitsside,today’struckscanbeoperatedfromafarwiththeuseofremotecontrols.•Theseremotesnotonlyimprovetheusefulnessofboomtrucks,butalsoincreasesafetyforthecrewswhousethem.TypesofBoomTrucks•Boomtuckscomeinvariousshapesandsizes.Commonvariationsinclude:Knuckle,Jib,Gin,andConveyer.However,themostcommon,especiallyforroadconstruction,isthestandardformshownbelow.TypicalBoomTruckDesignMainframe/TurretAssemblyHydraulicsRearOutriggersMainOutriggersControlsBoomCableFlatbedForMaterialSource:Terex-Waverly.comUseofBoomTrucks•Inmostconstruction,boomtrucksaretypicallyusedtotransport,lift,andplacematerial.•Theeaseofuseandmaneuverabilityofthesetrucksmakesthemidealformostprojectapplications.SafetyConcerns•Proximityofboomtopowerlines.•Likelihoodofelectricalstormsinworkingarea.•Stabilityofgroundsurroundingtheboomtrucklocation.•Overloadingboomtrucksbeyondrecommendedcapacities.•Inadvertentlymanipulatingboomtruckcontrolsthrougheithermaterialorworkeraccidentalcontact.•Monitoringmovementoftheboomandtruckitself.TypicalBoomTruckAccidentsCommonAccidents051015202530354045BoomContactingPowerLineBoomCollapseMaterialFallingDrivingAccidentTwo-BlockingTypeofAccidentNumberofAccidentsTypicalBoomTruckAccidentsLevelofEmployment0510152025303540LaborerOperatorManagementLevelofEmploymentNumberofAccidentsTypicalBoomTruckAccidentsTypeofBoom05101520253035404550StandardGinJibConveyerKnuckleTypeofBoomNumberofAccidentsAnalysisofData•Mostboomtruckaccidentsaretheresultofsomepartofthetruckcontactingpowerlines.•Powerlinecontactisbyfarthemostdangeroustypeofaccidentthatcanoccurduringoperation.•Onaverage,1.45employeesareinjuredwhenaportionofthetruckcontactsapowerline.BoomTruckAccident:AnExample•Acrewwasinstallingpipeina4footdeep,11/2footwidetrench.•Aftermanipulation,theboomfinallycametorest2feetawayfromthepowerline.•Whilea32yearoldplumberwasholdingthepipeintheirlefthand,“thecraneoperatorandlaborerattheoppositeendofthepipeheardan‘arcing’noise.”•Asaresult,theplumberwasshockedanddiedatalocalhospital30minuteslater.BoomTruckSafety•EmployeesshouldalwayswearthenecessaryPersonalProtectiveEquipmentwhenusingboomtrucks.•Ataminimum,employeesshouldwearahardhat,fittedclothingthatwouldpreventsnaggingoncontrols,andsafety-toedboots.•Additionally,theOSHAManualshouldbeconsultedtoensureemployeesarewearingtheappropriatePPEforthematerialbeingtransportedandlifted.BoomTruckSafety•Truckscomingintocontactwithpowerlinesorbeingstruckbylightningcaneasilycausemultipledeathsperoccurrence.•Boomtrucksmustbeoperatedatsafedistancesfromnearbypowerlines.•SubpartNoftheOSHAManualcoversthebasicrequirementsforpowerlinesafety.BoomTruckSafety•Whenusingtheboomtrucktounloadmaterial,ensurethatitisproperlylevelinordertopreventtrucktippingandmechanicalfailure.BoomTruckSafety•Overloadingaboomtruckcancausecatastrophicfailureofthehydraulicsystemandtheboomitself.•Besuretofollowthemanufacturerloadinglimitationsforeachboomtruck.BoomTruckSafety•Ensurethatthematerialisproperlysecuredwhenunloadingorloadingthetruck.•Materialcanweighseveraltonsandcausedeathifnothandledproperly.BoomTruckSafety•Whendrivingthetruck,alwaysensurethattheclutchisdisengagedtoguaranteetheboomisdisabledduringcommute.•Usegroundguidesorflaggerswhileoperatingthetruckinreversetoprotectfromdrivingrelatedaccidents.•Useaspotterwheneveroperatingtheboomtomonitoritslocationatalltimes.BoomTruckMaintenance•Boomtrucksneedtoberegularlymaintainedinordertoensureproperfunction.•Consultthemanufacturer’sspecificationssheettokeepthetruckworkingtoitscapacityandavoidpotentialmechanicalfailure.BoomTruckMaintenance•Checktheelectronicequipmentusedtomaneuverandmonitortheboomtruckregularly.•Failureoftheseitemscanleadtosetupmistakesandmaterialoverloadingwhichcanresultinsevereinjuryorevendeath.THINKSAFETYWORKSAFELY