Aerial lift trucks, often referred to as bucket trucks, offer unparalleled convenience and efficiency for a wide array of elevated tasks. Whether you're a utility worker, an arborist, or a sign installer, these versatile vehicles provide safe and stable access to heights that would be difficult or dangerous to reach with ladders or scaffolding. The ability to precisely position a worker and their tools at the exact point of need, often with robust hydraulic controls and a spacious platform, dramatically streamlines operations and reduces time and effort.

Prioritizing safety through rigorous training and adherence to manufacturer guidelines isn't just good practice; it's essential for preventing accidents and ensuring that everyone goes home safe at the end of the day. Here are 14 tips from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

1. Allow only qualified and trained personnel to operate
2. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions
3. Inspect both the lift and worksite before each use
4. Set outriggers on pads or on a level, solid surface
5. Set brakes when outriggers are used
6. Watch out for overhead power lines or other obstructions
7. Use wheel chocks on sloped surfaces
8. Wear a full body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the bucket
9. Wear eye protection and a hard hat
10. Don’t wear climbing spurs inside the bucket
11. Tie off to an approved anchor point and stand firmly on the bucket’s floor
12. Don’t overreach beyond the edge of the bucket
13. Don’t use the bucket for material handling tasks unless it’s designed for it
14. Don’t exceed load capacity limits; take the weight of workers, tools, and materials into account when loading