Quick answer: every EWP has a model-specific maximum wind speed — on our boom it’s 12.5 m/s (45 km/h) — and some machines have different height ratings indoors vs outdoors because of wind exposure. Weather planning is three checks, not one: wind against the rating, rain against the ground, and visibility/lightning against common sense. Set stop-work triggers before the job, not during the gust.
Wind ratings are per-model facts
The number lives on the spec sheet and capacity plate, not in folklore:
- LGMG AR11J boom: max operating wind 12.5 m/s
- LGMG S1212E-2 scissor: rated 14m working height indoors but 9.5m outdoors — the wind exposure is the difference
- Our 19ft electrics carry reduced outdoor occupant ratings (2 indoors // 1 outdoors)
“Indoor-rated” machines (0 m/s wind rating on some models) must never work outside at all. Check the plate for the machine you actually have.
Measure, don’t vibe
Gusts matter more than averages, and height multiplies wind — the breeze at deck level is not the wind at 12m. A handheld anemometer on the platform is cheap; forecast apps give planning numbers the night before. Materials change everything: a sheet of ply or a banner in hand is a sail that makes the rated limit irrelevant — the code treats handling sheet materials in wind as its own hazard.
Rain: the ground is the casualty
Rain rarely stops an EWP directly — it stops the ground under it. Saturated soil and fill lose bearing capacity; outrigger feet and wheels settle; delivery trucks rut the access path. After heavy rain, re-run the ground checks before elevating, even in a spot that was fine yesterday. Wet steel decks and controls also mean slower, more deliberate work.
Storms, lightning, visibility
- Lightning within striking distance → lower, exit, shelter. An elevated platform is the tallest object around.
- Poor visibility (fog, dust, heavy rain) → the exclusion zone and spotter system stop working; so do you.
- After the storm → walk the site again: debris on the machine, moved barriers, softened ground, damaged services.
Exposure hides indoors too
“Indoor” jobs aren’t automatically wind-free: open dock doors, incomplete facades, atriums and half-built structures funnel wind. The S1212E-2’s outdoor rating applies wherever real wind reaches, whatever the roof status.
Set stop-work triggers before you start
Write them into the SWMS or the day plan:
- Wind gusts at platform height reach the model rating → lower and pause
- Handling sheet/banner materials → a lower trigger you set in advance
- Lightning risk → down and out
- Ground visibly wet/softened → re-assess before next elevation
- Restart only after wind, ground and machine are re-checked
A written trigger removes the worst pressure on site — arguing about whether “it’s fine”.
FAQs
Are all EWPs rated for the same wind speed? No — limits are model-specific, from 0 m/s (indoor-only) upward. Our boom’s limit is 12.5 m/s; check the plate on yours.
What is 12.5 m/s in real terms? 45 km/h — a strong breeze that moves branches and makes sheet materials unmanageable well before the machine itself is at limit.
Why does rain matter if wind is low? Because bearing capacity is the casualty: saturated ground settles under wheels and outrigger feet, and that’s how overturns start.
Can I keep working if gusts come and go? Plan against gusts, not lulls. If gusts touch the trigger, lower and wait — a gust arrives faster than a platform descends.
Does indoor work remove weather risk? Mostly, but open doors, incomplete walls and atriums leak real wind — and outdoor ratings apply wherever real wind reaches.
Should I re-check the site after storms? Yes — debris, moved barriers, softened ground and water in controls are all post-storm findings. Treat it as a fresh pre-start.
Is soft ground a weather issue? Directly — rain converts yesterday’s assessment into today’s guess. Re-check.
Do I need a weather stop rule? Yes, written before work: numeric wind trigger, lightning rule, restart checks. Decide in the office, not in the gust.
Is a boom or scissor safer in wind? Neither inherently — the machine with the higher rating and the lower profile for your task is safer. The rating decides, not the shape.
Who calls the stop? Anyone can stop unsafe work; the supervisor owns the restart after the re-checks pass.
Figures from current manufacturer spec sheets — specifications vary by model; confirm before you book.