Bucket Truck Annual Inspections: Part 2 – Factors to Remember

Annual Inspections | Decals

In last week’s Utility Pros, we covered the first part of ‘Bucket Truck Annual Inspections.’ The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A92.2 standard has guidelines to follow for annual inspections – and recommends that they be done by a qualified professional.

Here is the second part of this two-part article:

Function Tests of the Boom

During the annual inspection, the mechanic or service technician needs to conduct a performance test of all the boom’s movements.
It is important to check the condition and tightness of all the bolts and other fasteners on the aerial device, as well as inspect the welds.

The person conducting the annual inspection should remember to reference the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines for additional insights during these steps.

Decals

Next, it’s important to make sure that all of the machine’s identifications, as well as its operation and instructional markings, are legible, up-to-date and in proper order. Adherence to these inspection guidelines is very important to ensuring the safe operation of the bucket truck in the future.

Final Tasks

The final two tasks may be optional, depending on the configuration of the aerial device:

If the machine is rated as an insulating device, the electrical insulating components and system(s) should be thoroughly inspected for lack of cleanliness and other conditions that may compromise insulation. Then, these components and system(s) need to be tested for compliance with the rating of the aerial device, per ANSI’s Section 5.4.3 of the current A92.2 standard.
If the aerial device’s manufacturer indicates that the machine has upper controls equipped with high electrical resistance components, these components need to be maintained and electrically tested per ANSI’s Section 5.4.3.6 of the current A92.2 standard.

Record All Suspect Findings

Suspect items uncovered during the periodic inspection and tests need to be recorded into the machine’s service logs, and all unsafe items must be replaced or repaired immediately. ANSI requires periodic inspection and test records to be kept for a minimum of five years. Terex encourages customers to keep the records for the life of the machine. Also, we recommend that our customers share these records with their Terex equipment distributor, as well as future owners, so that all parties who have an interest in the machine’s well-being are up-to-date on its condition at any given time.

Final Thoughts

Bucket truck owners and operators should comply with the manufacturer’s guidelines, at a minimum, for scheduled maintenance tasks. More frequent inspections and maintenance may be required depending on work conditions. Proper maintenance of a bucket truck greatly influences, and affects, many things that are important to a utility company, such as operator safety, long machine life, a high return on investment and avoiding unexpected, and costly, downtime.

For more information on Terex Services inspection programs, visit https://www.terex.com/utilities/en/service/preventative-maintenance-programs.