Cherry Picker Risk Assessment Template for South Africa

A Cherry Picker Risk Assessment is a critical safety document that you must complete before operating any aerial work platform in South Africa. This comprehensive evaluation helps you identify potential hazards, assess their likelihood and severity, and implement appropriate control measures to protect workers and comply with South African occupational health and safety legislation.

When do you need this document?

You need a Cherry Picker Risk Assessment whenever you plan to use aerial work platforms for construction, maintenance, or access work. This includes building maintenance projects where workers need elevated access, electrical installations requiring work at height, tree trimming or landscaping operations, and warehouse operations involving high-level stock retrieval. The assessment is also required when introducing new cherry picker equipment to your worksite, changing operational procedures, or when previous assessments become outdated. Under South African law, you must complete this assessment before work commences and review it regularly to ensure ongoing compliance and safety.

Key legal considerations

Your Cherry Picker Risk Assessment must address several critical safety elements to meet legal requirements. The document should include comprehensive hazard identification covering electrical hazards from overhead power lines, ground conditions that may affect stability, weather conditions that could impact safe operation, and potential falling object risks. You must evaluate mechanical hazards such as equipment failure, hydraulic system malfunctions, and structural integrity issues. The assessment should also consider human factors including operator competency, fatigue, and communication protocols. Risk control measures must follow the hierarchy of controls, prioritizing elimination and substitution before relying on personal protective equipment. Emergency procedures, including rescue plans for workers stranded at height, must be clearly documented and communicated to all personnel.

Legal requirements in South Africa

South African law mandates specific requirements for cherry picker operations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993 and supporting regulations. The Construction Regulations 2014 require that all mobile plant and lifting equipment undergo regular inspections and that operators hold appropriate certificates of competency. You must ensure compliance with the Driven Machinery Regulations, which govern mechanical aspects of cherry picker operations and maintenance requirements. The General Safety Regulations mandate the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and establish requirements for fall protection systems. Your risk assessment must demonstrate compliance with these regulations and include evidence of operator training, equipment certification, and maintenance records. Additionally, the assessment should reference relevant South African National Standards (SANS) and manufacturer specifications to ensure comprehensive safety coverage.