3.5 Storage of Access Equipment

Correct storage protects ladders, scaffold components, and aerial lifts from physical damage, corrosion, UV degradation, and moisture. Equipment that is stored improperly may develop hidden defects that are not discovered until the next inspection — or worse, not until it fails under load.

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🪜Ladders 🏗️Scaffold
Components 🚧Aerial Lifts

3.5.1 — Ladders

Ladders must be stored so that their rails, rungs, and hardware are protected from physical stress, moisture, chemicals, and UV radiation. A ladder stored incorrectly can warp, corrode, or degrade invisibly, creating a serious fall hazard during the next use.

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Ladder Storage Requirements

📐 Support Position — Store horizontally on padded supports or vertically on wall-mounted hooks to prevent warping of rails and rungs.
🌡️ Environment — Keep away from heat sources, chemicals, and excessive moisture. All ladder materials — fibreglass, aluminum, and wood — are damaged by prolonged exposure to harsh environments.
🚫 Off the Ground — Do not store ladders on the ground where they can be stepped on or where moisture contact can cause decay (particularly critical for wooden ladders).
☀️ UV Protection — Fibreglass ladders must be stored away from prolonged direct sunlight; UV radiation degrades the fibreglass resin over time, weakening the rails.

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Never Paint a Stored Ladder Painting a ladder to "protect" it conceals cracks, corrosion, and structural defects. Fibreglass ladders may be marked with adhesive labels only. If a ladder requires protection from the elements, store it indoors or in a covered rack.

3.5.2 — Scaffold Components

Scaffold frames, tubes, couplers, and planks are heavy-duty steel and timber components that are exposed to the elements on every job. Proper storage prevents corrosion of steel members, warping of timber planks, and loss of the small hardware that holds the system together.

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Frames, Tubes & Hardware

Frames & Tubes

Store steel scaffold frames and tubes off the ground on racks or pallets to prevent ground contact corrosion.
Stack frames vertically in designated bins or lay flat on level racks — never lean unsupported against a wall where they can fall or bow.
Cap all open tube ends to prevent water ingress and debris accumulation inside the tubes.

Couplers & Hardware

Store couplers in bins sorted by type (right-angle, swivel, sleeve) to prevent mixing of incompatible parts and to speed up assembly on the next job.
Lubricate wedge and pin mechanisms annually with a light machine oil to prevent seizing from corrosion.
Inspect for bent pins or damaged wedges before returning to storage after each use.

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Scaffold Planks

Keep scaffold planks dry; wet planks are a slip hazard and repeated wetting causes wood fibres to swell and weaken.
Stack planks flat on a level surface with uniform supports to prevent warping under their own weight.
Inspect for decay, cracks, splits, and excessive wear before each use season — planks that pass storage inspection may still develop defects after seasonal temperature and humidity changes.

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Component Segregation Different scaffold systems (Baker's, end frame, tube-and-coupler) use components that are not interchangeable. Label all storage racks by system type and never mix components — incorrect parts can fail under load without warning.

3.5.3 — Aerial Lifts

Aerial lifts are complex, high-value pieces of equipment. Correct storage and winterization procedures protect hydraulic systems, batteries, and structural components, and ensure the machine is ready for immediate safe use when next deployed.

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Aerial Lift Storage Procedures

📋 Manufacturer Procedures — Always follow the manufacturer's storage and winterization procedures for extended storage. These vary by machine type (electric scissor, diesel boom, electric boom) and climate.
⬇️ Retract & Lock — Fully lower and retract the boom or scissor mechanism before parking; engage the travel lock and parking brake to prevent unintended movement.
🔋 Battery Maintenance (Electric Units) — Plug in the battery charger; maintain charge level per manufacturer guidelines. Deep-discharge of lead-acid batteries permanently reduces capacity.
🛡️ Hydraulic Cylinder Protection — Protect hydraulic cylinder rod surfaces from corrosion during extended storage; apply a manufacturer-approved protective spray to all exposed rod surfaces.

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Winterization in Canadian Climates In cold climates, hydraulic fluid viscosity increases significantly at low temperatures, making controls sluggish and increasing stress on hydraulic pumps. Follow the manufacturer's cold-weather fluid specification and run the machine briefly before full operation to allow hydraulic fluid to warm up.

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Key Control Always remove the ignition key from a stored aerial lift and secure it per your employer's equipment-control procedure. An unsecured key allows unauthorized operation by untrained personnel — a leading cause of aerial lift tip-over incidents.