I am doing a bat job this week and will be using a lift for the first time. Will be renting the
lift. Looking for any pointers you experienced lift users can give me. I know safety first.

What do you need to do to make the job safer?

Wear a proper harness and always snap in when entering the platform. Use the safety rings not the rails. Then take a moment in a clear flat area to familiarize yourself with the controls, especially the sensitivity. Nothing worse than over compensating a move sixty feet up, other a fall of course.

Hard to put pointers on here. Just be careful and watch where you drive, turn and all overhead wiring of any type. Watch your level as most lifts wont work properly if their gyro shows you arent level. Dont go faster then you can operate. Take time to familiarize yourself with all the functions and be sure to use a fall harness at all times.

Most injuries and deaths from boom lifts are due to ejection. Hit a little bump and it acts like a catapult. I have witnessed this a worker ran over a small island in a parking lot. Listen to Warriors advice. Take the extra time to bring the boom down to the ground when moving the machine. Some machines have very sensitive controls try turning etc away from the building you are working on. The slightest bit out of level and the machine will not let you go up very high, some may seem stuck (coming back down) they go so slow when alarm is on. Watch for tire sink also while making a lot of boom movements (if you can bring 2 X 12s to help with that. Even 3/4" plywood works to a point.)

I think he is talking about a 45 ft. tow able unit. Does not move under its own power.

If its a driveable be very alert to the surfaces your on. While the parking lot will support the weight sidewalks don't, don't ask me how I know this.

Biggest thing to remember, you are moving in a circle, to go sideways, you have to go up and out. To get back, you go in and down.

Thanks guys for the info. I am using a towable lift not a driver. I hate hights so safty will be my #1 priorty for sure.

Towables have outriggers. Be sure they are on solid ground, you may need solid mats or cribbing if the ground is particularly uneven or soft.

Amen to that!

Just a short update. Did the bat job and used the lift. What a big time saver everything worked great.
I will be using one again. Thanks for the advice guys!

Used my first driveable lift this week on a big school job. Works like a charm! (Except poor Laura had to lug plywood around when we ran around sidewalks/sprinkler heads).
Always have a spotter/helper on the ground.

Have a ground safety watch the entire time on the job....