One of the most important tools for construction and maintenance operations is the boom lift. These critical and versatile machines help crews reach new heights and tight spaces, and they come in a variety of forms, such as articulating and telescoping lifts. However, some areas may remain inaccessible to a simple boom, making an additional jib necessary to complete the job.
What is a jib on a boom lift, and how can it help your team complete the job? Let?s cover the essentials of a boom lift to understand how useful it can be.
A boom lift is a type of aerial lift that uses a long, extending arm to help reach hard-to-access places, such as ceilings, high windows, rafters, and treetops. The prominent arm of the lift is known as the boom, and it?s what gives the machine its name1.
Boom lifts are used for many different types of work, from construction and demolition to tree work and even painting. While most of these machines are independent vehicles that can move and operate under their own power, there are also towable boom lifts that are often used for smaller jobs or when hauling a larger lift isn?t necessary or feasible. There are two main types of boom lifts?articulated and telescopic?each of which has its own special applications.
The first notable category of boom lifts is the articulated boom lift. These are named after the long, segmented arm that grants operators a high degree of precision when maneuvering the boom.
Many articulated boom lifts have two or three segments that allow them to easily reach over and around obstacles2. The cherry pickers used by technicians working on telephone and power lines are perhaps the most recognizable type of articulated boom lift, but they?re used for other jobs, too.
These aerial lifts are ideal for working in confined areas and are easy to use indoors as well as outside. They can traverse uneven terrain, and they will generally be able to extend up to 150 feet.
Rather than using multiple arm segments to achieve height and reach, telescopic boom lifts employ just a single arm. Unlike the arm of an articulated lift, a telescopic boom lift?s arm is extendable and retractable. The arm always remains straight and cannot bend conveniently over obstacles or reach over one side of an obstacle and lower on the other side.
The strength of a telescoping boom lift is that it has the best horizontal reach of all the types of lifts. A telescopic arm can be safely extended up to 210 feet horizontally. That said, these lifts often require more space than other versions.
Most people probably recognize the word jib from the saying ?the cut of your jib.? This phrase actually references a jib in a nautical sense, but the two terms are related.
Instead of referring to a sail, ?jib? in the context of aerial lifts refers to a small arm attached to the boom that allows for a little bit of extra reach while working. Using a jib can extend your boom lift?s effective range, which makes extra-tight spaces easier to reach and gives the lift a bit more utility.
This extra functionality does come at a price, though. Once you equip a boom lift with a jib, the amount of weight the operating platform can safely hold is dramatically reduced.
This means that a jib is not appropriate for jobs that require an aerial lift to move great amounts of material. Instead, it should be used when the platform is only carrying the operator and a small amount of gear. Overloading the platform while using a jib could damage the boom and potentially lead to serious injury for the operator.
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Boom lifts are used in industries of all kinds, from shipping and receiving to construction, for their superior maneuverability and their ability to grant access to high, hard-to-reach places. The main arm on a lift is known as the boom, and it?s what shoulders most of the weight while moving the platform around. A boom can extend through either articulation or telescoping.
For jobs that require a more delicate touch and more precision, you may need to install a jib at the end of a boom. The jib is usually horizontal and functions to extend the lift?s reach further and lend the operator more control of where the work platform ends up.
Using a jib extends the functional reach of a boom lift, but this comes at a cost. The jib is often smaller than the rest of the boom and is not able to withstand as much force. This means that adding a jib to your lift will almost certainly decrease the lift capacity of the machine3. Most boom lifts with jibs have a maximum platform capacity of between 500 and 1,000 pounds, but each machine is different, and you should always verify with the equipment?s manufacturer before starting a job with a boom lift jib.
While operating a lift, the boom does the heavy lifting. It provides the majority of the height and reach that a lift can manage, but the jib is there to add just a little bit of extra distance and a whole lot more precision. Jobs that require a lot of heavy lifting and involve simply moving cargo from one area to another are unlikely to necessitate the use of a jib.
The jib on a boom lift should be reserved for more delicate work, where the operator needs to have fine control over where their platform ends up and how it moves while it?s up there4. This makes a jib best suited for jobs like tree work, line work, painting, and certain types of construction.
Safety must always come first when operating a boom lift with a jib, and OSHA should be the first place that all boom lift operators check when researching boom lift safety5. Operators should always have fall protection gear properly equipped when operating their boom lift, and it?s also crucial to ensure that the platform capacity is monitored at all times. Exceeding the platform capacity runs the risk of damaging equipment and severe bodily injury or even death for the operator.
It?s also crucial to monitor the platform to ensure that nothing falls out during the course of the operation. Some boom lifts may have varying maximum capacities depending on how the lift?s arm is extended. Failing to pay close attention to these capacities risks the lift tipping over, so these limits must be observed rigidly. Even a moment of imbalance can cause a lift to tip over.
Finally, some boom lifts allow operators to move the lift while in the operator?s basket. When moving a lift, always be hyper-aware of your surroundings to avoid collisions.
The exact process for stowing and deploying a jib depends on the machinery you?re using. It?s crucial to consult the lift?s safety manual to ensure proper stowage and deployment. Some lifts will have a dedicated jib stow function that can be accessed through a switch on the platform, while others may need to be stowed manually6. A jib should always be completely stowed before transporting the machine to the next job site.
Problems with the jib on a boom lift tend to fall into one of three categories: electrical issues, hydraulic issues, and corrosion. These problems can largely be avoided by following a careful maintenance routine. Preventative maintenance goes a long way with these machines.
First, it?s helpful to perform a daily walk-around inspection of each lift. Being diligent about these inspections means that you?re likely to find any burgeoning issues before they exacerbate. Keep an eye out for loose connections, leaking hydraulics, and any rust or damage to the metal of the jib. Each day, before use, also ensure that all controls are functioning properly, all fluid levels are appropriate, and all safety devices are in place.
