Safety Themes for Boise Home Elevator Installations

There are a few important themes to keep in mind for any elevator or related product being installed in your home or that of a loved one, and safety is at the top of every such list. Whether you’re taking part in the installation or simply just around the space as it’s happening, ensuring full safety for everyone involved is extremely important.

At A+ Elevators & Lifts, we go to great lengths to ensure safety for everyone present during any of our Boise, ID home elevator or lift installations — both clients and our team members. What are some of the most important safety areas we cover, and what should you know about them as well, even if you’re just an observer during an installation? Here are some basics.

Common Hazards to Be Aware Of

First and foremost, here are some of the potential hazards of an elevator or lift installation that must be understood and planned for in advance:

• Falls: Anytime you’re working at a height, or even on the ground in an area close to one, there is always a risk of falling. This can be as simple as tripping and stumbling over your own feet, or as complex as being knocked off balance by a piece of equipment bumping into you.
• Improper use of PPE: Personal Protective Equipment is always a necessity when working with and around hazards, but if it’s not used properly, it can actually become a hazard itself. For instance, if you’re wearing a hard hat but not securing it properly, it could come flying off your head during a fall or other impact and cause serious injury.
• Scaffolding or other structure collapse: Any time you’re working with or around a scaffolding, it’s important to be aware of the potential for collapse. This is especially true if the structure is not properly secured or if it has sustained any damage during the installation process.
• Electrical hazards: Electricity is always a potential hazard, whether you’re working with live wires or simply around electrical equipment. If you are not properly trained and experienced with working with or around electricity, it’s best to stay as far away from this area of the installation process as possible.
• Confined space: Any time you’re working in a confined space, there is an increased risk of injury or even death. This is due to the fact that there is less room to move around, and less ventilation, which can lead to exposure to fumes or other dangerous gases.

What are some of the ways we combat these risks while on any elevator installation job? Our next several sections will dig into these.

Strong, Regularly-Reviewed Safety Protocols

For starters, we have strong, regularly-reviewed safety protocols to help prevent common injuries and other threats. These include the following:

• Comprehensive personal protective equipment (PPE): We only work with and wear PPE that is suited for the specific job at hand. We also make sure to wear the right PPE for the right job and situation, using hard hats if there is a danger of falling objects or safety glasses at all times on jobs where there is any potential risk of dirt or other debris getting in our eyes.
• Confined space prevention: At A+ Elevators & Lifts, we avoid working in confined spaces whenever possible. If it’s absolutely necessary to enter a confined space, we take extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone involved including using proper ventilation and PPE.
• Fall prevention: We take several measures to prevent falls, both for our team members and clients. These include using ladders, scaffolding and harnesses if needed to ensure stability at great heights; using guardrails, toe-board barriers or other safety measures as necessary on any job that involves working at a height; and regularly checking elevators, lifts and other equipment to make sure they are working properly.
• Emergency preparedness: We always have a plan in place for what to do in case of an emergency. This includes having a first-aid kit on hand, as well as knowing the nearest hospital or medical facility. We also make sure to have the contact information for the local fire department and police department readily available.

Securing Ladders, Scaffolding, Etc.

For any job that involves working at a height, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to prevent falls. This includes using ladders, scaffolding and harnesses if needed to ensure stability at great heights; using guardrails, toe-board barriers or other safety measures as necessary on any job that involves working at a height; and regularly checking elevators, lifts and other equipment to make sure they are working properly.

One of the most common causes of falls is from ladders or scaffolding, which is why we take extra care to secure these structures at all times when using them. We do this by making sure that our ladders are sturdy enough for a person’s weight, regularly checking the integrity of all ladders to minimize the risk of wobbling or other weaknesses, and ensuring that our scaffolding is always securely fastened to the floor or wall to prevent it from moving.

Electrical Safety

We also take electrical safety very seriously on all of our jobs. This includes making sure that all electrical equipment is properly grounded and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with or around live wires. We also make sure to have the contact information for the local electric utility company readily available in case of an emergency. We ground all our power tools while making sure they are in good repair and won’t cause shocks.

Hydraulic Safety

Finally, we also pay close attention to the health and safety of our hydraulic units. This includes making sure that all hydraulic fluid is free from leaks or other damage, inspecting hoses for wear, checking pressure gauges before use, and ensuring clean, uncontaminated fluid for all operations.

At A+ Elevators & Lifts, we take every precaution to make sure that our home elevator installation process is as safe as possible for all parties involved. If you’re interested in installing an elevator or lift in your Boise, ID home, don’t hesitate to contact us today! We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, not only about safety but also about all the fantastic qualities of our products.