Top 5 Uses for a Cherry Picker

The cherry picker has a diverse number of uses and is an integral part of many construction and engineering environments.

Originally designed to be used in orchards for fruit picking, this versatile piece of equipment is as likely to be seen being used for fixing a telegraph pole as it is for taking cherries off trees.

A cherry picker is important to use for any task which is at height. Safety is paramount when carrying out jobs above ground level and a cherry picker means that the person carrying out the job can do so in safety and security. On any given day, a cherry picker could be being used to assist with any number of important jobs. The top 5 uses are:

Building Maintenance

A building which needs cleaning or painting will require those given the task to work at height and often at awkward angles. Whilst a ladder may be seen as sufficient, a cherry picker gives the mobility, security and safety of moving to any part of the building whilst handling maintenance equipment, reaching or stretching.

Servicing of telephone and electricity poles

There are thousands of miles of telephone and electricity poles around the world and keeping them all maintained and repaired is a skilled job. For anyone employed in this field, a cherry picker will be a regular part of their daily routine to ensure that they can reach the area to be worked on. In the past, it was expected that a ladder would be used and then climbing equipment to reach the top, but this is deemed too dangerous and inefficient by most companies now.

Filming events such as large sporting competitions

When watching events on television, the excitement is added to by the swooping shots and the high angles of the camera as it captures every aspect of every second of the proceedings. A cherry picker means that the filming equipment can be mounted high in the air to give the viewers a bird’s eye view, which is often better than the spectators who are actually there to see it live.

Fire services

Every day across the globe, firemen bravely risk their lives to rescue people trapped through fire or other life-threatening situations. Without the use of a cherry picker, they would not be able to bring those on upper floors to safety other than using a ladder. A cherry picker means that – within its operating limitations – multiple rescues can take place at the same time. It also means that firemen no longer have to lift those needing assistance over their shoulder before returning to the ground as they can be placed into the cherry picker.

Picking Fruit

It wouldn’t be called a cherry picker if it wasn’t used for picking cherries. Picking fruit from branches high up in orchards is now easy with the use of a cherry picker. There is no longer the danger of falling from height or the loss of fruit which is unreachable due to its location.

All these tasks have been made safer, quicker and more efficient thanks to the use of a cherry picker truck. However, it is essential that rigorous training takes place before anyone is allowed to operate this piece of machinery. Areas such as general health and safety, machine operation, emergency control and limitations of use must be covered before competency to operate is gained.

With the cherry picker one of the most important pieces of equipment when working at height, its use and application continues to grow as different industries recognise its use and benefits.