ALC ALC Load Capacity & Stability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should tools and materials be positioned on an aerial lift platform for maximum stability?
- Centered and low on the platform floor (Correct answer)
- Hung over the guardrails for easy access
- Stacked as high as possible to save space
- Placed on one side to balance the operator's weight
Correct answer: Centered and low on the platform floor
Keeping loads centered and low maintains the platform's center of gravity within the safe stability envelope.
Question 2: What effect does high wind speed have on aerial lift stability?
- It increases lateral forces that can destabilize the lift (Correct answer)
- It cools hydraulic fluid and improves performance
- It has no effect below 30 mph
- It reduces the load on the platform
Correct answer: It increases lateral forces that can destabilize the lift
Wind creates lateral loads on the platform and operator, which can shift the effective center of gravity outside safe limits.
Question 3: What is a 'dynamic load' in the context of aerial lift operations?
- A load that changes due to movement, acceleration, or sudden stops (Correct answer)
- The weight of the machine itself
- The maximum static load the platform can hold
- A load applied only during transport
Correct answer: A load that changes due to movement, acceleration, or sudden stops
Dynamic loads result from motion—such as driving over bumps or sudden braking—and temporarily exceed the static load value.
Question 4: When should an operator reduce the actual load below the marked maximum capacity?
- When working on uneven ground, slopes, or in high winds (Correct answer)
- Only when the supervisor requests it
- Never—the maximum is always safe to use
- When the lift is less than 10 feet off the ground
Correct answer: When working on uneven ground, slopes, or in high winds
Environmental factors such as slopes, soft ground, and wind reduce effective stability, requiring conservative load limits.
Question 5: What does the term 'tipping fulcrum' refer to on a wheeled aerial lift?
- The pivot line over which the machine tips if stability is lost (Correct answer)
- The steering axis of the front wheels
- The attachment point for tie-down straps
- The center of the platform floor
Correct answer: The pivot line over which the machine tips if stability is lost
If the center of gravity moves past the tipping fulcrum—typically the outer edge of the downhill tires—the machine tips over.
Question 6: What is the primary reason operators must never use the lift structure as an anchor point for rigging heavy loads?
- Rigging loads can exceed the rated capacity and alter the center of gravity (Correct answer)
- It scratches the machine's paint
- OSHA permits rigging only on scissor lifts, not boom lifts
- It voids the operator's personal insurance
Correct answer: Rigging loads can exceed the rated capacity and alter the center of gravity
Attaching suspended rigging loads applies forces the structure was not rated for, introducing unpredictable instability.
ALC ALC Load Capacity & Stability 2
How should tools and materials be positioned on an aerial lift platform for maximum stability?