In Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, 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 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 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 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: where the risk lies
A Cork or Waterford pharma plant shutdown where contractors access tank farms and roof plant under both safety and GMP rules. Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) are suited to reaching over obstacles and to height where an articulating or telescopic boom is needed, but in a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts)
Before any Pharmaceutical Manufacturing worker uses Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts), confirm that:
- Harness and short restraint lanyard clipped to the anchor
- Function and emergency-lowering checks before use
- Overhead and electrical clearances confirmed
- Guardrails and gate intact
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
- Soft or sloping ground
- No rescue plan
- No harness or wrong lanyard length
- Catapult risk when the basket snags and frees
Height-work controls must coexist with GMP and contamination control, so equipment selection and training are tightly specified.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
Here is the good news: getting compliant is fast and inexpensive. 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 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 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
Insurers now ask directly whether your team holds current Working at Heights certification before they price a policy or settle a claim involving Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. A worker hurt at height with no Working at Heights Certificate turns a defensible incident into an indefensible one, and that follows your premium for years.
The rescue plan is the part most teams forget. If a worker doing Cherry Pickers (Boom Lifts) in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing falls and is left hanging in a harness, suspension trauma can become life-threatening within minutes. Calling the emergency services is not a rescue plan; having the equipment, the trained people and the method to recover them quickly is. Our Working at Heights Training makes that planning routine.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 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 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 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 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 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. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 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.
