Electrocutions are the most common cause of death in which type of lifts?

• A. Scissor-Type
• B. Boom-Supported
• C. Vertical-Lift
• D. Telescoping Boom

Answer: (B)

When workers operate elevated platforms, electricity hazards mainly come from overhead power lines. Lifts that use a boom extend outward and upward, allowing the worker to reach areas far from the base. That same reach brings the platform—and its metal parts—into close proximity to energized lines, making contact or arcing possible. Because of this extended reach and the potential for direct contact, electrocution is the leading fatal hazard with boom-type lifts. Scissor-type and vertical lifts don’t have the same outward reach toward lines, so their electrocution risk from power lines is typically lower in common use. Therefore, boom-supported lifts are the type most associated with electrocution deaths.