Choosing the right MEWP is of the utmost importance and is essential for the safety of the operator and others in the work area. Selecting the wrong machine for the job increases the likelihood that the operator may try and make it work, causing an unsafe situation. Furthermore, using the wrong machine could result in damage to the machine and workplace, as injuries or death to the operator.

Anyone purchasing a MEWP needs to identify what type of MEWP is required, and some questions need to be asked to make the right equipment is chosen for the job.

One of the first questions you should ask is: What is the application? This will help you decide which type of machine you need. Once this determination, there are several other factors to consider.

1.     How high do you need to reach? The required work height is an obvious and important selection criterion for MEWPs. In the U.S., actual working height should incorporate 6 feet – representing the reach of an average worker standing on the platform with arms stretched overhead. The working height of a 60-foot boom lift, for example, is actually 66 feet.

2.     Do you only need to go up or do you need to go up and out? The ability to reach out horizontally is a deciding factor and could indicate the need for a telescopic or articulating boom vs a scissor lift, self-propelled vertical lift, or push-around personnel lift, which have little to no horizontal reach capability outside any extension deck offering.

3.   If you do need to reach out, how far out do you need to go? Knowing what you will be lifting and how much it weighs should guide MEWP selection as well. MEWP platform capacities can range from 300 to 1,000 pounds and above. Calculating the total machine load is essential so you can avoid exceeding the rated capacity of the machine.

4.   What are potential jobsite obstacles? Fixed obstacles, such as water, ditches, or permanent structures indicate the vertical and horizontal reach needed to access the work at height. Articulating booms provide special up-and-over capability to position the operator’s basket around overhead obstacles in constricted work environments. In this situation, the machine’s chassis size and maneuverability – such as its turning radius, proportional controls, and other steering options may also become crucial for jobsite access.

5.     What will you be lifting? This capacity calculation should include people, tools, material, and anything else that will be in the platform, so it is important to identify how many people need to be on the platform at the same time. Different MEWPs have different platform sizes and entry points in addition to operator and weight capacity ratings, which need to be taken into consideration.

Understanding the experience and training level of the operators themselves is key. This helps determine whether operator or familiarization training will be needed before work begins.

6.     What is the range of motion required? The importance of understanding the worksite is just as important as knowing what you will be lifting.

The work area that each boom lift can access is determined by the combination of its vertical height and horizontal outreach capabilities – commonly referred to as its range of motion or working envelope.

7.     What unusual jobsite conditions need to be factored in? That could include things like accessibility, whether there are any weight restrictions for support surfaces, minimum stowed dimensions for doorway access or terrainability, such as the need to drive on turf or sand. Special considerations could also include noise or emissions requirements.

Beyond all these considerations, lift manufacturers offer special options and accessories to customize different machines for specific applications, such as material handling or secondary guarding.