Elevated Work Platform Course

Lesson 1 • Types of Aerial Work Platforms

Distinguishes scissor lifts, boom lifts, and vertical mast lifts by design and function. Builds classification skills needed for equipment selection in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Overview of Elevated Work Platforms

Defines elevated work platforms and their purpose across industries. Connects equipment categories to real-world applications encountered throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory Framework and Standards

Introduces the regulatory bodies and safety standards governing elevated work. Provides the compliance context that underpins all safety decisions in the course.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Hazard Identification

Covers the hierarchy of hazard recognition and common elevated-work hazards. Provides the analytical lens applied in all subsequent risk and safety sections.

Lesson 2 • Risk Assessment Methodology

Applies likelihood-consequence matrices to prioritize elevated-work risks. Produces ranked risk registers used to select controls in the following section.

Lesson 3 • Hierarchy of Controls for Elevated Work

Maps elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and PPE controls to identified risks. Equips operators to select the most effective control for each hazard.

Lesson 4 • Site Assessment Procedures

Teaches structured site inspection methods before platform deployment. Connects ground conditions, overhead clearances, and traffic patterns to risk control decisions.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Operation Inspection Fundamentals

Introduces the purpose and structure of pre-operation inspections using manufacturer checklists. Establishes the inspection habit that precedes every operational chapter.

Lesson 2 • Platform and Safety Device Inspection

Focuses on guardrails, gates, fall-arrest anchor points, and load capacity markings. Confirms all passive and active safety devices are functional before use.

Lesson 3 • Site Setup and Positioning

Teaches correct platform positioning, outrigger deployment, and exclusion zone establishment. Prepares operators to configure the work area safely before elevating.

Lesson 4 • Structural and Mechanical Checks

Covers inspection of chassis, mast, boom, scissors, and hydraulic components for defects. Teaches operators to identify wear, damage, and fluid issues before operation.

Lesson 1 • Traveling with an Elevated Platform

Addresses the risks and techniques of moving the platform while elevated. Reinforces hazard awareness skills from Chapter 2 in a dynamic operating context.

Lesson 2 • Understanding the Control Interface

Maps ground and platform control panels, joystick functions, and speed selectors. Provides the control literacy required for all practical operation sections.

Lesson 3 • Boom and Articulating Arm Operation

Introduces telescoping and articulating boom controls for extended reach tasks. Builds on basic elevation skills to manage complex multi-axis movements safely.

Lesson 4 • Starting, Stopping, and Steering

Covers safe startup sequences, smooth stopping techniques, and directional steering inputs. Builds the foundational movement skills applied in all subsequent maneuver sections.

Lesson 1 • Inspection and Maintenance of PPE

Teaches pre-use inspection, storage, and retirement criteria for all fall protection PPE. Ensures operators maintain equipment integrity throughout its service life.

Lesson 2 • Fall Hazards at Height

Identifies the primary causes of falls from elevated platforms and their consequences. Grounds operators in the severity of fall risk before introducing prevention measures.

Lesson 3 • Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Explains harness selection, donning, anchor point connection, and fall clearance calculation. Ensures operators use fall arrest equipment correctly when passive systems are insufficient.

Lesson 4 • PPE Selection for Elevated Work

Covers head, eye, foot, and hand protection requirements specific to elevated tasks. Links PPE selection to the hazard types identified in the risk assessment chapter.

Lesson 1 • Calculating Total Platform Load

Teaches operators to calculate combined weight of personnel, tools, and materials. Connects load calculation skills to safe task planning before each lift.

Lesson 2 • Ground Conditions and Bearing Capacity

Addresses soil types, surface defects, and ground bearing capacity for platform support. Teaches operators to assess and prepare ground conditions before deployment.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Load Ratings

Explains rated capacity, platform load limits, and the consequences of overloading. Provides the load literacy required for all stability and positioning decisions.

Lesson 4 • Repositioning and Load Adjustment

Covers safe procedures for repositioning the platform and adjusting loads mid-task. Reinforces stability principles by applying them to dynamic work scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Types of Platform Emergencies

Categorizes mechanical failures, power loss, entrapment, and environmental emergencies. Provides the classification framework that organizes all emergency response procedures.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Lowering Procedures

Teaches manual and auxiliary lowering methods when primary controls fail. Ensures operators and ground crews can lower a stranded platform safely.

Lesson 3 • Post-Emergency Reporting and Review

Covers incident reporting requirements, equipment quarantine, and post-event investigation. Ensures every emergency generates learning that improves future safety performance.

Lesson 4 • Ground Crew Rescue Procedures

Defines ground crew roles, rescue equipment, and coordination steps during a platform rescue. Connects team communication skills to structured rescue execution.

Lesson 1 • Working Near Electrical Hazards

Covers approach distances, insulated platforms, and coordination with electrical authorities. Applies hazard identification skills to the highest-risk elevated work scenario.

Lesson 2 • Outdoor and Adverse Weather Operations

Covers wind speed limits, lightning protocols, and surface management in wet conditions. Teaches operators to assess and respond to changing outdoor environmental conditions.

Lesson 3 • Night and Low-Visibility Operations

Addresses lighting requirements, spotter roles, and communication protocols for low-visibility work. Extends standard operating procedures to conditions that increase human error risk.

Lesson 4 • Multi-Platform and Coordinated Operations

Manages simultaneous platform operations, exclusion zones, and inter-crew communication. Applies all prior skills to complex multi-platform work scenarios requiring coordination.