In Office and Commercial, Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) are a common way to work at height - and a common source of falls when they are misused. This guide explains how Office and Commercial teams in Ireland use Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Office and Commercial: where the risk lies
An office facilities lead stopping a colleague from standing on a wheeled chair to change a ceiling light, and providing proper steps instead. Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) are suited to reaching over obstacles and to height where an articulating or telescopic boom is needed, but in a Office and Commercial setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts)
Before any Office and Commercial worker uses Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts), confirm that:
- Harness and short restraint lanyard clipped to the anchor
- Function and emergency-lowering checks before use
- Guardrails and gate intact
- Overhead and electrical clearances confirmed
The relevant standard here is EN 280, operated by IPAF 3b card holders with a worn, in-date harness and restraint lanyard.
Common Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) faults to never ignore
- No harness or wrong lanyard length
- Catapult risk when the basket snags and frees
- Untrained operators
- Soft or sloping ground
Even low-risk offices have falls from chairs and ladders; basic awareness training prevents most of them.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
You do not need a classroom or a lost work day to fix this. Our Working at Heights Course is delivered fully online, takes about 45 minutes, and issues a downloadable certificate the same day. It is CPD certified, RoSPA approved and QQI aligned, and it is written specifically for Office and Commercial teams using Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts).
The Working at Heights Training covers the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy, ladder and stepladder safety, MEWPs and scaffolds, harnesses and anchor points, and how to carry out a proper risk assessment. Every learner finishes with a recognised Working at Heights Certificate that stands up to HSA inspection and supports your insurance position.
Training that goes beyond the tick-box
The cheapest control is always to avoid the work at height in the first place. For Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Office and Commercial, that can mean long-handled tools, lowering the task to ground level, or designing the job so no one needs to climb. Where that is impossible, collective protection such as guardrails and platforms beats personal protection every time.
Young and new workers are over-represented in fall statistics, and Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Office and Commercial is no exception. Setting good habits from the very first day - never climbing on furniture, never overreaching, always inspecting equipment - is far easier than unlearning bad ones later. Early certification with a Working at Heights Course pays back for an entire career.
Frequently asked questions
Do Office and Commercial workers need training to use Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts)?
Yes. Safe use of Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) is part of working at height. A Working at Heights Course covers selection, inspection and safe use for Office and Commercial tasks.
How often should Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) be inspected?
Before every use by the operator, plus formal recorded inspections to the relevant standard. Keep the logs for HSA inspection.
Is online training enough for Office and Commercial height work?
Our online Working at Heights Training covers the legal and safe-system knowledge; equipment-specific practical tickets (such as IPAF or PASMA) are added where the task requires them.
Get certified today
Do not wait for an HSA inspection or a near miss to act. Office and Commercial teams can complete the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes and download a certificate the same day. For 10 or more learners, see our team training rates, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Start the online Working at Heights Training now and put a recognised certificate in every worker's file before the next job at height begins.
