Bucket Truck Safety for Municipalities Stats and Facts

FACTS

Common Hazards Associated with Bucket Trucks Include:

  1. Electrocution: When workers are using bucket trucks, they may come into contact with overhead power lines, which can result in electrocution.
  2. Falls: Workers may fall from the bucket if they are not wearing appropriate fall protection.
  3. Equipment Failure: Bucket trucks have many moving parts and systems, including hydraulic systems, brakes, and electrical systems. Any failure or malfunction can lead to equipment damage, injury, or even death.
  4. Overloading: Overloading the bucket can lead to instability, tipping, and equipment failure.
  5. Traffic Hazards: When working by roadways, workers must take avoid being hit by passing vehicles.
  6. Weather Hazards: Adverse weather conditions such as high winds, lightning, or heavy rain can make operating a bucket truck dangerous. Workers should avoid using the equipment during these conditions.
  7.  Lack of Training: Operators who are not adequately trained in the use of bucket trucks.
  8. Improper Use: Operating the bucket truck in a way that it was not designed for, such as carrying more weight than the recommended capacity or using it on uneven surfaces, can result in accidents.

STATS

  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 74 fatalities in 2019 related to the use of aerial lifts and bucket trucks. It’s important to note that the majority of these fatalities were in the private sector, but municipal workers are also at risk of injury or death from improper bucket truck use.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, there were 49 fatalities in the United States involving aerial lifts, which includes bucket trucks. The leading causes of fatalities were falls, electrocutions, and being struck by objects. Many of these fatalities occurred in the construction industry and municipalities.
  • according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), electrocutions, falls, and tip-overs are among the most common causes of fatalities and injuries related to bucket trucks. OSHA reports that there were 74 fatalities and 42,090 injuries from 2011 to 2020 in the United States due to contact with objects and equipment, which includes accidents involving bucket trucks.
  • According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 31 fatal injuries associated with the use of bucket trucks in 2019.
  • The most common cause of bucket truck accidents is electrocution, which accounts for approximately 50% of all fatalities.
  • Falls from the bucket or the truck bed are the second most common cause of bucket truck accidents.
  • Nearly 75% of all bucket truck accidents occur when the truck is parked or stationary.