Short answer: before a mast climbing work platform is used, inspect it visually, switch it on and check the emergency stop, then do the brake test. Raise the platform at least 50 cm, release one motor brake at a time and confirm it does not descend. Finish with a test run. Any uncontrolled descent means the machine is taken out of service.
This checklist follows the user manual of the P1500 and P3000 work platforms made by ALPMAKSAN, an İstanbul-based manufacturer of mast climbing work platforms and construction hoists. The manual asks for the visual inspection daily when the platform is used daily. Treat this page as a briefing aid, not a replacement for the manual.
What should the daily visual inspection cover?
Walk around the machine before powering it on and check:
- wall tie assemblies and cable guide components,
- all safety devices, to confirm they are present and undamaged,
- connections between mast sections, and the position and condition of the mast,
- loose components or fasteners,
- ground supports and the condition of the supporting surface,
- electrical connections,
- protective covers, installed correctly and secured,
- support legs and platform extension, correctly secured,
- the limit switches,
- the platform travel path, free of obstacles,
- oil leakage from the drive unit,
- and, as the manual requires, the motor brake (see below).
How do you start the platform safely?
- Connect the machine to the site power supply and close the platform door.
- Turn the main switch on.
- Make sure the emergency stop button on each control box is released.
- Confirm the ready lamp is lit.
- Test the emergency stop. It must cut power to the motor immediately, and be reset afterwards.
- Press UP and DOWN. Movement must stop the moment the button is released.
When working on the surface, the manual says the emergency stop button should always be pressed.
How is the brake test done?
The manual requires a brake test before the machine is placed into operation:
- Raise the platform at least 50 cm above the buffer position.
- Pull the brake release lever on only one motor. The fan may turn slightly, but the platform must not descend. Release the lever.
- Repeat for the other motor. The platform must again stay in place.
- On twin-mast machines, repeat the check on the drive unit at the opposite side.
If any uncontrolled descent occurs, take the machine out of service immediately, secure it against further use and consult a qualified maintenance engineer before it returns to work.
The UK HSE makes the same point about functional checks. In its alert on mechanical failures in mast climber drive units, it asks for functional checks of the individual automatic brake on each paired drive unit, in line with the manufacturer's instructions. HSE safety alert
What does the test run include?
After the brake test and start-up, run the platform through a test run. Where it is used daily, this is part of the daily check. Verify that:
- the travel path is free of obstacles,
- bolts in mast connections and wall tie anchorages are present, intact and undamaged,
- all limit stops are installed correctly and undamaged,
- all switches and all control station buttons work,
- the power cable moves freely.
The machine goes into service only if all test run checks pass.
What rules apply while operating?
- Nobody may stay under the machine when it operates.
- Lower the platform to its lowest position before people board or materials are loaded.
- Do not let materials project beyond the platform or lean against the guardrails, and do not remove guardrails during operation.
- If the control panel is left unattended, switch the main switch off. If work is interrupted for any reason, lock it with a padlock.
- Stop work immediately if a storm approaches, switch the power off and disconnect the plug. Wind limits come from the manufacturer's manual for your model.
- Never exceed the rated load for the approved configuration. Our load capacity guide explains how to read it.
What do the warning lamps on the control panel mean?
The panel carries a ready lamp, a door-open lamp, an error lamp, a parachute brake lamp and a motor protection lamp. Treat any lamp other than the ready lamp as a reason to stop and find the cause. Safety devices and emergency lowering explains what triggers each of them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to do the brake test every day?
The manual requires a brake test before the machine is put into operation. The visual inspection is daily when the platform is used daily, and the test run is part of the daily check.
Why release only one motor brake at a time?
So that the other brake holds the platform while you prove the first one works, and the same in reverse.
What if the platform slips slightly during the brake test?
Any uncontrolled descent means the machine must be taken out of service and checked by a qualified maintenance engineer.
Who does the daily check?
Operators who are trained and aware of their responsibilities, with the owner or responsible person informed of any fault.
Is the daily check the same as scheduled maintenance?
No. See the maintenance schedule for weekly to two-yearly service.
Set up a daily check routine with ALPMAKSAN
Ask us for the manual and operator briefing for the P1500 or P3000.
Sources
- HSE safety alert: mast climbing work platforms, mechanical failure in drive units
- IPAF: Guidelines for the safe use of mast climbing work platforms
- ALPMAKSAN P1500 / P3000 user manual (operation chapter)
Updated: 2026-10-28
This guide gives general operating information. Follow the manual supplied with your machine and your site's safe working procedure.