The RIGHT Safety Contact for aerial lift safety.

Designate a single point of contact from each sports team, music and band department, and every other group that uses an aerial, scissor or boom lift. Athletic trainers and band directors are often the most logical choices. Each Safety Contact should receive activity-specific safety training and develop and enforce safety protocols.

The Safety Contact:

• Has primary responsibility for determining when lifts can be safely operated
• Has ultimate authority to enforce all safety protocols at any time
• Serves as independent and objective resource to whom administrators, staff, and students may report any safety concerns regarding the work or practice environment
• Functions as a liaison between safety department and his or her department
• Should assume primary responsibility for monitoring real-time weather data
• Should be responsible for making sure annual safety training is given to all students and personnel within their department who use the lift, in accordance with their institution’s policy.

Administrators, staff and students should be provided with contact information for the Safety Contact and informed of their right to confer with the Safety Contact at any time.

In addition to the Safety Contact, coaches, video coordinators, videographers, and all other employee-operators should be encouraged to voice any concerns they may have regarding the propriety of using lifts in certain conditions. Moreover, lift operators should continue to be empowered to ground or lower the lifts if they feel uncomfortable for any reason.