Airo XP Series - Leaving at Height; Description of the Machine

Use and Maintenance Manual - XP - XLP Series
Page 7
Do not use the machine for purposes other than those for which it was designed, except after making a
request and having obtained written permission in this sense from the manufacturer
1.3.1 Leaving at height
The work elevating platforms are not designed by taking into account the risks of the “leaving at height” because the only access
position considered is when the platform is completely lowered. For this reason this activity is formally forbidden.
However, there are exceptional conditions in which the operator needs to access or leave the work platform not in the access
position. This activity is normally defined as “leaving at height”.
The risks connected to the “leaving at height” do not depend exclusively on the PLE (work elevating platform) characteristics; a
specific risk analysis carried out by the employer can authorize this specific use by taking into account:
 The working environment characteristics;
 The absolute prohibition to consider the work platform as an anchoring point for people working outdoors;
 The use of the machine at xx% of its performances to avoid that additional forces created by a specific operation or
bending of the structure move away the access zone from the unloading zone. Provide for some tests in order to define
these limitations;
 Provide for a specific evacuation procedure in case of emergency (for example: an operator always on the platform, one at
the ground control panel while a third operator leaves the lifted platform );
 Provide for a specific training of the staff both as operator and transported staff;
 Equip the unloading zone with all the devices that are necessary to avoid the risk of fall of the staff that accesses/leaves
the platform.
What said above is not a formal authorization of the manufacturer for the “leaving at height”, but it wants to supply information to
the employer - who is fully responsible for that - which can be useful for the planning of this exceptional activity.
1.4 Description of the machine
The machine described in this use and maintenance manual is a Manual Drive Elevating Work Platform equipped with:
- Chassis equipped with wheels.
- Vertical scissor lifting structure operated by one or more hydraulic cylinders (the number of cylinders varies according to
machine model).
- Work platform (the max. capacity varies according to the model - see chapter "Technical features”).
The chassis is equipped with four idle wheels of which two rear pivoting and two front fixed (non steering). The rear wheels are
equipped with pedal parking brake; on front wheels there is a device for automatic braking which intervenes when the work platform
is in a position other than the access one.
The hydraulic cylinder moving the extensible structure is provided with a solenoid safety valve directly flanged on the same. These
devices allow the booms to remain in position even if one of the supply tubes accidentally breaks.
The platform is equipped with rails and toe-boards of a prescribed height (the height of the rails is  1100 mm; the height of the
toe-boards is 150 mm). For basic models XP4 E – XP5 E – XLP5 E the platform perimeter corresponds to the rails perimeter,
while for DUAL models it is possible to adjust the maximum platform size by adjusting the rails on two fixed positions. In the "open"
position, the rails make the whole platform floor available to the operator; in the "closed" position the rails reduce its perimeter
dimensions allowing the operator on board to fit the platform into confined spaces such as the panels of false ceilings.
To access the platform the following access systems are available:
- Entrance area with one-door reclosing gate and automatic lock in the closed position (standard for basic models XP4 E – XP5
E – XLP5 E);
- Entrance area with gravity rod (standard for "DUAL” models);
- Entrance area with two-door gate ("saloon” type) with automatic reclosing and locking system in closed position (optional for
"DUAL” models).
When no motive power is available, the manual emergency lowering can be controlled enabling the knob manually from the ground
(see instructions plates).