You have a tree to prune that rises above the warehouse roof, or a facade to treat with the driveway gate opening onto a narrow path. Before even choosing the machine, there are a few things the law requires of the operator — and that are worth knowing well, because working at height is one of those activities where a procedural mistake can cost you dearly.
Who can operate: training and certification
Elevated work platforms fall under the category of attachments that require specific training and recognized certification. Knowing how to operate the machine is not enough: the operator must have completed a theoretical and practical course, passed a final assessment, and kept their certification current with periodic refresher training.
This applies both to self-employed workers and to those working within a company. The employer is responsible for assigning the machine only to certified personnel. Entrusting the platform to someone who has not completed the required training exposes both the worker and the company to serious consequences.
Periodic inspections: what to check and when
An aerial work platform is a piece of equipment subject to mandatory inspections at set intervals. The first inspection is carried out by the relevant public authority; subsequent ones may be performed by certified bodies, public or private. This is not a formality: the inspection verifies that the structure, safety devices, and controls are functioning as required.
Those who use the machine every day must still do their part before each use: a visual check of the condition of the booms, hoses, and controls from both the basket and the ground, and verification that the locking devices are intact. A problem found on the ground takes little time to fix; found at height, it becomes an emergency.
Outriggers: the step you cannot skip
Outriggers are the foundation on which all work at height depends. They must be deployed on stable ground, on surfaces capable of bearing the load, and the support pads must be correctly positioned before raising the boom by even an inch.
Soft ground, uncompensated gradient, or partially deployed outriggers are among the most common causes of tipping. On tracked platforms such as the KB20 and KB23 from Cormidi, the tracks allow you to reach positions on uneven terrain where a wheeled machine could not go, but this does not remove the requirement to verify the stability of the support point before stepping on board.
PPE: what to wear in the basket
Anyone stepping into the basket must wear a fall-arrest harness connected to the anchor point provided by the machine. This is not the operator's choice: it is a requirement, even when the job lasts only a few minutes and the height seems modest. The harness is not there to prevent falling out of the basket under normal conditions — it is there to restrain the operator if the machine sways unexpectedly or a wind gust hits.
The right PPE must be selected for the type of platform and working height, and the buckles, stitching, and carabiner must be checked before use to make sure they are in good condition. A worn harness is not PPE.
In the Cormidi lineup
The Cormidi aerial work platforms are tracked machines that fit through a narrow gate and stabilize on uneven terrain. The KB11 mounts on the CMF multi-purpose machine and covers work at height in green areas and yards. The KB20 and KB23 have a basket, an underbridge boom, and, as an option, a crane with a log-grab kit and a winch kit — useful tools when working at height and also needing to move material.
Cormidi does not manufacture hedge trimmers or personal protective equipment: for PPE and training, contact the relevant dedicated channels. The right machine is only one part of safe working practice.
What to check before deciding
Before choosing a platform, it is worth measuring the entry passage to the jobsite, the type of terrain you will be working on, and the height you need to reach. Then verify that the designated operator holds a current valid certification and that the chosen machine has undergone the required periodic inspections. For a comparison of available models and operating conditions, the starting point is a local dealer.
