When your teams work at height, choosing the right aerial platform does not depend only on working height, outreach, or the type of carrier vehicle. The work environment also plays a decisive role, especially when an electrical risk is present.
There is often confusion among operators, who tend to associate a fiberglass basket with an insulated aerial platform. At first glance, the connection may seem logical, since glass-fiber-based composite materials can have insulating properties depending on their composition. However, this reasoning is not enough to qualify the entire aerial platform as insulated.
An insulated aerial platform is not defined by the basket material alone. It is based on an overall design, a declared insulation level, appropriate testing, and precise conditions of use. This is the difference we want to clarify.
Points to remember before making your choice
An aerial platform with a fiberglass basket is not automatically an insulated aerial platform.
The basket is only one component. It may offer useful properties depending on its design, but it does not define the authorized electrical use of the machine on its own.
An insulated aerial platform is equipment designed for a specific use, with a boom, basket, components, and operating manual suited to this context. The NF EN 61057 standard specifically covers insulating aerial devices mounted on chassis and used for live working above certain voltage thresholds. Source used – AFNOR, NF EN 61057.
Why does this confusion exist?
In common understanding, fiberglass is associated with a non-conductive material. This association is not unreasonable, since FRP composites, or fiber-reinforced polymers, are described as having low conductivity or non-conductive properties depending on their formulation. Source used – ACMA / Composites UK, guide on FRP products.
But an aerial platform cannot be reduced to a single material. It is a mobile machine made up of a basket, a boom, controls, mechanical connections, a chassis, hydraulic equipment, and a specific work environment. Electrical risk must therefore be assessed at the scale of the entire machine.
This is where the distinction matters. A fiberglass basket describes one part of the aerial platform, while an insulated aerial platform describes a regulated operational capability.
What is a fiberglass basket on an aerial platform?
A fiberglass basket is a basket made from a composite material. It is usually a polymer reinforced with glass fibers. The basket carries the operator during work at height.
This type of basket may be chosen for several reasons.
- It can reduce the need for a metal basket.
- It can offer good resistance to certain external constraints.
- It may provide insulating properties depending on its composition.
- It may meet specific requirements in certain environments.
The point of caution remains the same. The basket does not qualify the entire aerial platform by itself. A machine fitted with a fiberglass basket should not be presented as an insulated aerial platform if the complete equipment has not been designed, tested, and documented for that use.
What is an insulated aerial platform?
An insulated aerial platform is a machine designed to reduce the risk of electrical conduction under defined conditions. It does not rely only on the basket. It concerns the full architecture of the machine.
In the case of an insulated van-mounted aerial platform, several elements must be examined.
- The boom.
- The basket.
- The insulating components.
- The controls.
- The declared insulation level.
- The tests performed.
- The limits stated in the manufacturer’s operating manual.
The NF EN 61057 standard applies to insulating aerial devices intended to be mounted on a chassis and used for live working on electrical installations above 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC. Source used – AFNOR, NF EN 61057.
This definition shows that insulation is a complete equipment logic. It cannot be reduced to the presence of a basket made from composite material.
Why is the basket alone not enough?
During an operation, electrical current is not limited to the place where the operator stands. The boom, chassis, tools, humidity, surface condition, machine movements, and work environment can all affect the risk assessment.
This is why an aerial platform that is not qualified as insulated must be approached with caution in an electrical environment. The basket may be made of fiberglass, but the machine may still be unsuitable for work near a live electrical network.
Example
A team is working on public lighting. The basket is made of fiberglass. However, if the boom is not insulated, if no insulation level is stated, or if the operating manual does not allow this type of use, the machine must not be considered an insulated aerial platform.
In this case, the machine should not be chosen based on the appearance of the basket. The choice must start from the actual risk, the voltage involved, the work environment, and the manufacturer’s instructions.
What do prevention rules say?
For work near power lines, the French Labour Code sets minimum distances that must be respected. Article R4534-108 states a distance of 3 metres for lines or installations with a voltage below 50,000 V, and 5 metres when the voltage is equal to or greater than 50,000 V. Source used – French Labour Code, Article R4534-108.
These distances do not concern only the operator. They must be understood in relation to the whole work situation. The French Labour Code refers to workers, tools, devices, machines, and handling equipment. Source used – French Labour Code, Article R4534-108.
INRS also reminds users that MEWPs must be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the work environment, stability conditions, and the specific risks of the operation. Source used – INRS, ED 6419 brochure on mobile elevating work platforms.
The 3 m and 5 m distances are regulatory reference points. They do not replace a worksite risk assessment.
Before any operation, the voltage, the actual position of the lines, possible machine movements, tools used, wind, cable sway, and the instructions of the network operator must all be taken into account.
If the required distances cannot be respected, the operation must be reconsidered. Depending on the situation, this may involve de-energising the line, installing barriers, using another access method, selecting a suitable insulated aerial platform, applying a specific procedure, or bringing in a qualified team.
When can a fiberglass basket be suitable?
A fiberglass basket may be relevant when it meets the constraints of the intended use and when the operation does not involve an identified electrical risk.
It may be considered for maintenance, inspection, signage, urban maintenance, or access-at-height operations where the electrical environment has been assessed and ruled out.
| Work situation | Fiberglass basket | Point of caution |
| Maintenance with no identified electrical risk | May be suitable | Check the operating manual and usage limits |
| Signage or urban display work | May be suitable | Check the environment before starting work |
| Visual inspection at height | May be suitable | Do not assume electrical protection |
| Work near a live electrical network | Not sufficient on its own | Assess whether an insulated aerial platform is required |
A fiberglass basket can therefore be a good choice in certain situations. It should not become a shortcut for claiming electrical insulation.
When should an insulated aerial platform be considered?
An insulated aerial platform should be considered when electrical risk is part of the work environment. This applies to certain operations on or near electrical networks, infrastructure maintenance work, or interventions where contact with a live component cannot be ruled out.
It may concern several types of professionals.
- Network operators.
- Electrical maintenance companies.
- Public lighting teams.
- Technical services exposed to overhead power lines.
- Certain telecom operations carried out near electrical infrastructure.
Electrical authorisation remains separate from the choice of machine. INRS reminds employers that authorisation is issued after training suited to the operations to be performed, along with verification of the worker’s knowledge and practical skills. Source used – INRS, electrical authorisation.
The right machine does not replace operator competence. It is part of a broader system that includes worksite assessment, preparation, authorisations, procedures, and compliance with the operating manual.
| Question to ask | What it helps verify |
| Does the operation take place near an electrical network? | The risk must be considered before choosing the machine |
| Is the voltage of the installation known? | Distances and procedures depend on the voltage level |
| Is the aerial platform declared as insulated by the manufacturer? | The basket alone is not enough |
| Is the insulation level stated? | It must match the work context |
| Is the boom designed for this use? | Insulation does not concern only the basket |
| Does the operating manual cover this type of operation? | Manufacturer limits must guide machine use |
| Are the operators authorised? | Work organisation remains decisive |
This table does not replace a risk assessment. It helps avoid the most common mistake, which is choosing a machine based only on the basket material.
Why does this topic deserve close attention?
Electrical accidents are less frequent than other workplace accidents, but their severity remains high. INRS states that fewer than ten workers die from electrocution each year in France, and that electrical accidents can also cause fires or explosions. Source used – INRS, accidents of electrical origin.
This observation is not meant to dramatise the choice of an aerial platform. It highlights a simple rule. When an electrical environment exists, the assessment must be carried out before the operation begins, not once the aerial platform is already in position
The KLUBB approach
At KLUBB, we believe that choosing an aerial platform must start with real field conditions. Working height, outreach, carrier vehicle, and payload are essential criteria, but they are not always enough to choose the right solution.
For operations in an electrical environment, the analysis must go further. The type of network, voltage, approach distances, access constraints, boom configuration, insulation level, and conditions stated in the operating manual must be studied together.
Our role is to help you choose an aerial platform that matches your actual use cases. Fiberglass basket, insulated aerial platform, van-mounted aerial platform, specific carrier vehicle, or trade-specific configuration, each choice must respond to a precise operational constraint.
