Working at height comes with its challenges. We know that choosing the wrong equipment can lead to delays, safety concerns, and unnecessary costs – that’s why understanding your options matters. Whether you’re maintaining a building, working on construction sites, or accessing high industrial shelving, your equipment needs to match your project.
Cherry pickers are versatile in use. Understanding what this type of access equipment can do for your business will help you choose the right solution for your needs.
What Are Cherry Pickers and Boom Lifts?
A cherry picker (also called a boom lift or aerial work platform) is mobile access equipment that lifts workers safely to height. Unlike other equipment, it can move both up and out, giving you vertical and horizontal reach. The aerial lift consists of a motorised base fitted with an extendable, multi-jointed hydraulic arm. At the end of this arm sits a bucket or platform where operators can stand to carry out their work.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The name ‘cherry picker’ comes from their original use in orchards, where they helped farm workers reach the higher branches when picking fruit, specifically cherries. Nowadays, they’re used across a wide range of industries, from construction and maintenance to warehousing and utilities work.
What Are the Types of Cherry Pickers?
Cherry pickers come in different configurations to suit various applications:
Articulated Boom Lifts
Articulated boom lifts feature joints in the arm that allow them to bend and manoeuvre around obstacles. These machines are more compact and offer more manoeuvrability than other access equipment like scissor lifts, making them ideal for tighter spaces or when you need to reach up and over obstructions on the terrain.
Telescopic Boom Lifts
Also called straight booms or stick booms, these extend in a straight line without joints. They provide greater reach and more power, making them perfect for outdoor construction projects where maximum height and horizontal reach are essential.
How Can You Benefit From Using a Cherry Picker?
When it comes to working at height, cherry pickers offer several key benefits:
- Eliminates the need for scaffolding – You can set up and start work much faster than building scaffolding, saving valuable time. This is especially important when you’re working to tight deadlines or need to move between multiple locations.
- Improved safety – Workers don’t need to repeatedly climb ladders or balance on unstable platforms. The secure bucket and guardrails provide a steady working environment, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
- Better positioning – The boom arm allows precise positioning at any height and angle, so workers can get exactly where they need to be without overreaching or working in awkward positions. This precision helps you get the job done more efficiently.
- Increased efficiency – Workers can bring tools and materials with them on the platform, rather than constantly climbing up and down. This keeps your operations productive throughout the day and helps you complete tasks faster.
- Access difficult areas – The articulating arms on some models can reach over buildings, around obstacles, and into spaces that would be impossible to access with other equipment. This makes them highly useful for difficult terrains and work sites.
What Are Common Uses for Cherry Pickers?
You’ll find cherry pickers used across many different industries and applications:
- Construction sites – Installing windows, repairing facades, steel erection, and accessing high areas of buildings
- Maintenance work – Building repairs, industrial cleaning, painting, window cleaning, and general servicing tasks
- Utilities – Working on power lines, streetlight maintenance, and installing overhead cables
- Warehousing – Accessing high shelving, racking maintenance, and installing warehouse equipment
- Tree surgery – Trimming tall trees and removing branches safely from elevated positions
How High Can a Cherry Picker Reach?
The maximum height depends on the specific model you choose. Larger cherry picker arms can typically extend to around 55 metres (180 feet), though the working height of the platform will be slightly lower than the total arm length.
For example, the JLG E450AJ offers 13 millimetres of air line to the platform and a working height of 15.75 metres, providing substantial reach for most applications. When choosing a cherry picker, it’s important to calculate your exact height and outreach requirements to ensure you select the right model.
What Are the Power Source Options?
Cherry pickers come with two main power sources, each suited to different environments:
- Diesel-Powered Cherry Pickers – Offer more power and can reach greater heights. They’re robust machines for outdoor construction sites and demanding applications. When you need maximum performance and will be working in open-air environments, a diesel-powered is a go-to.
- Electric models – Produce zero emissions and operate much more quietly, making them ideal for indoor use, environmentally sensitive areas, or noise-restricted spaces. They’re generally more compact than diesel models and work brilliantly in warehouses and indoor maintenance applications.
What Are Cherry Pickers’ Safety Features?
Most modern cherry pickers are fitted with several safety features:
- Emergency stop button designed to immediately shut down the machine and prevent further damage or injury to workers or other individuals in the area
- Load sensing to monitor the combined weight of workers, tools, and materials on the platform
- Tilt alarms to alert operators if the machine is on unstable ground or positioned unsafely
- Lanyard anchor points to provide secure attachment points for safety harnesses and fall protection equipment
- Proportional drive controls for smooth, precise operation and boom and platform positioning
- Emergency descent systems for safe lowering of the platform in case of power failure or malfunction
Controls, switches, and safety devices should all be tested for proper functioning. Additionally, cherry pickers should be placed on a steady, even surface to avoid the machine tipping over and causing harm.
Can Anyone Operate a Cherry Picker?
While you don’t need a special licence to drive a cherry picker on UK roads (models under 3.5 tonnes can be driven with a standard car licence), you must complete proper MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) training to operate the boom and platform controls. Your training course should conform to recognised industry standards such as ISO 18878:2025.
This training covers safe operation, pre-operational checks, emergency procedures, and your legal responsibilities as an operator. Don’t hesitate to invest in proper training – it’s essential for meeting health and safety regulations and ensuring your workforce runs safely and efficiently.
Match Your Cherry Picker Needs With TAG
Having the right equipment helps ensure your jobs run smoothly, which is why TAG Forklift Truck Services is ready to help with equipment and expert servicing. We offer cherry picker hire and purchase options across North West England, including boom lifts, scissor lifts, and masted lifts from trusted brands like JLG. Whether you need equipment for a single day or ongoing operations, our 20+ years of experience will guide you to the right machine for your needs.
Contact us today to discuss your requirements with our reliable, friendly team.