Exploring The Benefits Of Remote-Controlled Rail Boom Lifts
Working in railway corridors to carry out repair and maintenance tasks is fraught with challenges. A demanding and high-risk environment to work in, crews must navigate their way through narrow pathways to access critical areas. In such a setting, machines that offer speed, safety, and precision are non-negotiable.
Traditional rail boom lifts may provide access to elevated areas while enabling the completion of a wide variety of tasks, but they need to offer a little extra flexibility to check all the right boxes. Enter remote control technology. Offering exponential potential, remote-controlled rail boom lifts are changing the way crews handle routine tasks. Let’s explore the major advantages they bring to the railway maintenance sector.
Perks of Remote-Controlled Rail Boom Lifts
Enhanced operator safety
Live electrical lines, moving trains, and falling debris are just some of the hazards crews can face when working on a railway line. Remote-controlled rail boom lifts make it possible to steer clear of each of them by offering a way to operate the machine from a safe distance. That means you can position yourself in a safe location while moving the lift precisely where you need it to be.
Not only does this reduce your exposure to risks, but it also gives you the chance to respond efficiently to emergencies. For example, if any unexpected situations arise, you can quickly use the remote to reposition or stop your rail boom lift without climbing into the driver’s seat. This can significantly lower the odds of jobsite accidents.
Greater precision and control
Millimeter-level positioning might sound like a distant dream, but it is possible with remote-controlled elevating platforms. Remote operations allow you to see the exact position of the lift on the ground. This further allows you to make micro-adjustments to their position that would be otherwise impossible.
In fact, by remotely controlling your lift, you can also navigate around obstacles in a much more efficient and safer manner. Being in the driver’s seat can limit ground-level visibility, but operating your lit remotely offers you a 360-degree view of obstacles so you can make your way around them.
Moreover, you also get better alignment for tasks where precision and stability are extremely important. Think jobs such as overhead wiring, CCTV installation, and bridge painting. Such fine control is a boon as it leads to faster and cleaner work.
More efficient workflows
It takes a whole crew to handle a rail project. Especially the time-sensitive ones, which to be honest, all of them are. Tracks cannot be closed for maintenance for a long period of time, thus emphasizing the importance of efficient workflows. Remote-controlled aerial lifts can support your productivity plan by offering tremendous time savings.
Since you control the machine from a distance, you can quickly reposition it to cover more tasks during restricted rail line access windows. It also enables more streamlined collaboration between you and your crew members. They can tell you exactly where they want the lift to be at any given moment, thus enhancing teamwork and efficiency.
Improved access to difficult spots
Notoriously difficult to navigate through, critical spots along rail corridors and tracksides can be even harder to access with traditional aerial lift models and cranes. What they need is a machine that is compact enough to offer easy maneuverability in really tight spaces, such as tunnels and bridges.
Remote-controlled lifting solutions tend to feature a compact design that has been specifically engineered to offer smooth navigation in the narrowest of corridors. Plus, since you do not have to be onboard to operate it, the risk of misalignment is significantly reduced. This makes it perfect for urban rail projects that require precise positioning.
Reduction in operator fatigue
When you are on site, you are likely to be there for the entirety of your workday. Needless to say, being in the driver’s seat and operating your lift all day can be draining. With a remote control, though, you get the flexibility to operate your platform while standing, sitting, or walking around, thus preventing fatigue, stiffness, and exhaustion-related accidents.
Conclusion
A blessing and a leap forward in safety and efficiency, remote-controlled rail boom lifts should be your default choice for all railway maintenance and utility projects. Platform Basket Canada, in Mississauga, Ontario, offers fine Italian-engineered machines that are not only easy to operate but also reduce downtime and improve safety and precision on-site. Contact us to get advanced rail boom lifts that are ready to support the present and future of Ontario’s rail infrastructure.
