Aerial lift with safety device

1. A safety device for an aerial lift having a basket or cage with controls which permits an operator standing in the basket or cage to manoeuvre the basket or cage to a desired location, a foot operable safety switch which provides a switch-closed signal when actuated, that permits the flow of power so as to permit the operator to manoeuvre the basket or cage via the controls, the safety device comprising a tensioned wire or cord within an operator work space defined by the basket or cage and arranged proximate to said controls, and an auxiliary safety switch connected in series with the foot operable safety switch, the auxiliary switch having a first set of contacts held in a closed, switch-on, condition by said tensioned wire or cord, and in the event that the tensioned wire or cord is distorted, the first set of contacts are changed to an open, switch-off, condition, whereby, in the event that the tensioned wire or cord is distorted while the foot operable safety switch is actuated, the auxiliary safety switch cuts off the flow of power permitted by the switch-closed signal provided by the foot operable safety switch, thereby preventing movement of the basket or cage even if the foot operable safety switch remains actuated.

2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary switch includes a signal filter which inhibits the changes in signal from at least one of the first and second set of contacts until a desired time period has elapse so as to prevent the switch off of power due to inadvertent loads acting on the tensioned wire or cord.

3. An aerial lift comprising a basket or cage having controls which permits an operator standing in the basket or cage to manoeuvre the basket or cage to a desired location, a foot operable safety switch which needs to be closed before said controls become operable, and a safety device as claimed in claim 1 .

4. An aerial lift as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the basket or cage is mounted at one end of an extendable boom.

5. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot operable safety switch has a main power feed line and the auxiliary switch is located in the power feed line to the foot operable safety switch downstream thereof.

6. A safety device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the auxiliary switch includes a second set of contacts that operate an alarm.

7. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 , and further including readily connectable and disconnectable pin and socket connectors whereby the auxiliary safety switch and the alarm are connectable to the foot operable safety switch facilitating the assembly and dis-assembly of the safety device from the basket or cage.

8. A safety device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the alarm comprises at least one of a flashing beacon and an audible warning device.

9. A safety device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the alarm further includes a radio frequency transmitter which send a radio signal to at least one further alarm remote from the basket or cage and which includes a co-operating receiver which operates said remote alarms.

10. An aerial lift comprising a basket or cage having a controls which permits an operator standing in the basket or cage to manoeuvre the basket or cage to a desired location, a foot operable safety switch which needs to be closed before said controls become operable, and a safety device as claimed in claim 6 .

11. An aerial lift as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the alarm is mounted to the underside of the basket or cage.

12. An aerial lift as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the basket or cage is mounted at one end of an extendable boom.