Boom Lift Certification in Canada: What You Need to Know

A boom lift is a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) with an arm, or boom, that lifts a platform (the basket) with workers up and out. Unlike a scissor lift, which only goes straight up, a boom lift can reach over obstacles and into awkward spots.

There are two main types:

• Telescopic boom lifts (straight booms) extend in a straight line for long horizontal and vertical reach.
• Articulating boom lifts (knuckle booms) bend at joints, so they can reach up and over things.

You will see boom lifts in construction, warehouses, building maintenance, painting, signage and utility work. You may also hear other names for this family of machines, such as aerial lift, cherry picker or elevating work platform (EWP).

Boom lifts put people high in the air on a moving machine. Training focuses on the hazards that cause the most serious injuries:

Most of these come down to planning: checking the ground, knowing the load limit, watching overhead, and knowing how to get down safely if something goes wrong.

No. There is no government licence for boom lifts in Canada. What you need is operator training, and your employer must make sure you are trained and competent before you operate one.

In plain words, the rules work like this:

• Provincial OHS regulations require employers to make sure workers are trained and competent for the equipment they use, and that the equipment is used safely.
• In Canada, MEWPs are covered by the CSA B354 family of standards, which deals with design, safe use and operator training.
• Training has two parts: theory (knowledge and a written test) and a practical evaluation where you show safe operation on a real machine.
• You also need familiarization on the specific make and model you will use: where the controls and emergency controls are, the safety devices, and the manufacturer’s limits.

Important: an online course is the theory part only. It does not make you a qualified operator on its own. You must also pass a hands-on practical evaluation on the boom lift before you operate it at work.

Anyone who operates a boom lift, or works from the basket, needs training. Supervisors who plan and oversee work at height also benefit. Common jobs include:

The online course suits new operators getting ready for a practical evaluation, experienced operators who need a refresher, and supervisors who want to understand safe boom lift work.

The Gama online Boom Lift course has seven modules that follow the way you use the machine on a real shift:

• Introduction to boom lifts: types, parts, controls and key hazards.
• Pre-operational inspection: checking the machine, controls, platform and work area, and what to do if you find a defect.
• Safe operation procedures: travelling, positioning and operating the boom, load limits, slopes and power lines.
• Working at height: using a full-body harness and tying off in the platform, and managing weather and overhead hazards.
• Emergency procedures: what to do if the lift malfunctions, tips or loses power, including emergency lowering and rescue planning.
• Practical training: what to expect in your hands-on evaluation and how to prepare for it.
• Post-operational inspection: parking, shutting down and securing the lift, and reporting damage.

On a boom lift, operators and passengers typically wear a full-body harness with a lanyard attached to the anchor point in the basket. This is meant to keep you inside the platform if the machine jolts or the boom bounces. Fall protection equipment in Canada is covered by the CSA Z259 family of standards.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your site’s rules. Never tie off to a nearby structure from the basket, and never climb on the guardrails to gain height.

The online course covers the knowledge part of boom lift training. Before you operate a boom lift at work, you also need a hands-on practical evaluation on the machine. This is usually done by your employer or a qualified evaluator.

Gama Safety Canada also offers hands-on boom lift training at our training centre in Burnaby, BC, or on site at your workplace. Call us to book.

Does boom lift certification expire? There is no single national expiry date. It depends on your province and employer. Many employers ask for refresher training every 1 to 3 years, and you should be retrained when you move to an unfamiliar machine or when unsafe habits are spotted.

1. Enrol in the online Boom Lift course and start right away on your phone, tablet or computer.
2. Learn at your own pace. The course takes about 4.5 hours, and your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better. Retakes are unlimited and free. Download your certificate right away, and get a wallet card mailed free.
4. Complete your practical evaluation on the boom lift with your employer, a qualified evaluator, or Gama’s hands-on training.

The course is recognized by employers across Canada and available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more. Training a team? Volume pricing starts at 2 seats, with an admin dashboard. Questions? Call 1-866-661-9803 or email info@gamasafety.ca.