Aerial Work Platform Operator Course

Lesson 1 • AWP Equipment Categories and Uses

Covers scissor lifts, boom lifts, and vertical mast climbers with their intended applications. Establishes the vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory Framework Overview

Introduces occupational safety standards, manufacturer guidelines, and inspection requirements governing AWP use. Provides context for rules taught in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Operator Roles and Responsibilities

Defines the operator's duty of care, accountability, and limits of authority. Connects individual behavior to overall site safety outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Worksite Hazard Categories

Classifies electrical, overhead, ground, and environmental hazards relevant to AWP work. Categorization enables faster recognition during pre-task planning.

Lesson 2 • Recognizing Changing Conditions

Trains operators to monitor dynamic hazards such as weather shifts, traffic changes, and ground deterioration during operation. Builds the habit of continuous situational awareness.

Lesson 3 • Hierarchy of Controls for AWP Work

Applies elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and PPE controls to AWP scenarios. Reinforces that higher-order controls are preferred over PPE alone.

Lesson 4 • Risk Assessment Methodology

Teaches a structured identify-evaluate-control process for rating hazard severity and likelihood. Connects assessment results to control selection in the next section.

Lesson 1 • Remove-from-Service Decision Making

Defines clear criteria for tagging out defective equipment and escalating to maintenance. Removes ambiguity so operators act decisively when defects are found.

Lesson 2 • Control and Safety Device Testing

Tests ground controls, platform controls, emergency lowering, and safety interlocks before operation. Confirms that all safety devices function as designed.

Lesson 3 • Structural and Mechanical Checks

Guides operators through visual and tactile checks of the frame, scissors, boom, welds, and fasteners. Defects found here prevent catastrophic failures during operation.

Lesson 4 • Inspection Standards and Documentation

Explains regulatory and manufacturer inspection intervals and required recordkeeping. Establishes why documentation protects operators and organizations legally.

Lesson 1 • Ground Surface Evaluation

Assesses load-bearing capacity, slope, and surface conditions before positioning the AWP. Poor surface selection is a leading cause of tip-over incidents.

Lesson 2 • Outrigger and Stabilizer Deployment

Demonstrates correct outrigger extension, leveling, and pad placement on various surfaces. Proper deployment is prerequisite to safe elevation on applicable machines.

Lesson 3 • Indoor and Confined Space Setup

Addresses unique setup challenges in warehouses, mezzanines, and confined areas including overhead clearance and ventilation. Indoor conditions require modified setup protocols.

Lesson 4 • Establishing a Safe Work Zone

Sets up barriers, signage, and spotter positions to protect ground workers from falling objects and moving equipment. Work zone setup is required before elevation begins.

Lesson 1 • Driving on Level and Sloped Surfaces

Practices controlled driving at ground level and on grades within rated slope limits. Driving technique directly affects stability and load distribution.

Lesson 2 • Smooth Shutdown and Stowage

Establishes correct procedures for lowering, stowing, and securing the AWP after task completion. Proper stowage prevents unintended movement and equipment damage.

Lesson 3 • Elevating and Positioning the Platform

Executes smooth lift, lower, and boom extension movements to reach the work position safely. Controlled elevation prevents sudden load shifts and structural stress.

Lesson 4 • Control System Familiarization

Maps ground and platform control functions, modes, and response characteristics for common AWP types. Familiarity before operation reduces control errors at height.

Lesson 1 • Wind and Environmental Load Effects

Quantifies how wind speed, gusts, and attached materials increase effective platform load. Environmental loads must be added to personnel and material loads in calculations.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Rated Capacity

Explains rated platform capacity, restricted capacity zones, and the load chart on the machine. Misreading capacity data is a direct cause of structural failure.

Lesson 3 • Calculating Total Platform Load

Guides operators through calculating combined weight of personnel, tools, and materials before elevation. Accurate calculation prevents inadvertent overloading.

Lesson 4 • Effects of Boom Position on Stability

Demonstrates how boom angle, extension, and rotation affect the machine's stability envelope. Operators learn to stay within the stability envelope at all boom positions.

Lesson 1 • Post-Fall Suspension Trauma Awareness

Explains the physiological risks of hanging in a harness after a fall and required rescue response times. Operators and supervisors must plan rescue before work begins.

Lesson 2 • Personal Fall Arrest System Components

Describes harness, lanyard, self-retracting lifeline, and anchor point requirements for AWP use. Correct component selection is the foundation of an effective fall arrest system.

Lesson 3 • Fall Hazards on Aerial Work Platforms

Identifies fall and ejection scenarios specific to AWP platforms including sudden movement and overreach. Understanding failure modes motivates consistent use of fall protection.

Lesson 4 • Donning and Inspecting Fall Protection

Demonstrates correct harness fitting, pre-use inspection, and attachment to the anchor point. Improperly worn or damaged equipment provides no protection in a fall.

Lesson 1 • Tip-Over and Ejection Response

Trains operators and ground crews on immediate actions during and after a tip-over event. Correct body position and post-incident actions reduce injury severity.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Lowering Procedures

Demonstrates ground-level emergency lowering using manual override and auxiliary power systems. Ground crews must be trained to lower the platform without operator assistance.

Lesson 3 • Emergency Scenario Recognition

Identifies the warning signs of imminent emergencies including unusual sounds, tilt alarms, and control failure. Early recognition allows operators to act before situations escalate.

Lesson 4 • Incident Reporting and Investigation

Establishes the process for reporting near-misses, incidents, and injuries to supervisors and regulators. Thorough reporting enables corrective action and prevents recurrence.