What Operators Should Do During the UAE Summer Season

A season-long guide for boom lift and scissor lift operators working through the UAE summer, covering the daily habits, machine checks and safety rules that keep crews protected at height.

The stretch from June to September is the hardest season of the year to operate an access platform in the UAE. Extreme heat, sudden gusty winds and blowing sand all change how a machine behaves and how safely a crew can work at height. The good news is that none of it needs to stop work, provided operators adjust their routine to the conditions. This guide walks through what operators should actually do during the summer season, from the start of a shift to the moment a machine comes down.

Start every shift with a proper pre-use inspection

Summer is exactly when a skipped daily check turns into a breakdown. Heat, dust and long duty cycles put more strain on a machine than any other time of year, so the pre-use inspection matters more, not less. Before the platform leaves the ground, operators should run through the essentials on any boom lift or scissor lift, whether it is a telescopic, articulated or electric unit.

• Check hydraulic fluid and coolant levels. Heat thins fluids and pushes cooling systems harder, so low levels are a real risk in summer.
• Clean and inspect controls, ground control and platform control panels, and confirm the emergency lowering function works.
• Clear dust from filters, radiators and cooling intakes, which clog faster in the UAE than almost anywhere else.
• Confirm safety decals are legible and the machine's inspection and certification are current. Never assume.
• Check tyres and, on electric units, battery charge and connections.

Watch the wind, and re-check it as you climb

Wind is the single most important environmental factor in aerial work, and it rises sharply with height. Most outdoor-rated machines have a maximum wind rating of 12.5 m/s (28 mph) under the EN 280 standard, and wind at a 20-metre platform height can be around 50% stronger than at ground level. An operator sheltered at low level can rise straight into gusts that exceed the rating without realizing it.

• Know the wind rating for the specific machine and keep an anemometer on site.
• Re-check wind speed as the platform elevates, not just at ground level.
• Lower the platform and stop work if wind or gusts reach the machine's limit.
• Never attach banners, signboards or sheet materials to the platform, as they act as sails.

Indoor-only machines carry no wind rating and must never be taken outdoors. In the Gulf, afternoon sea breezes and shamal winds can build quickly, so treat any forecast above the mid-20s in mph as a reason to plan carefully.

Manage the heat, for yourself and the machine

UAE summer temperatures routinely exceed 45°C, and a steel platform in direct sun runs hotter still. Operators need to protect both themselves and the equipment.

• Follow the Midday Break rule. Outdoor work is restricted during the hottest afternoon hours in summer, so schedule high, exposed tasks for early morning.
• Stay hydrated and keep water on the platform. Rotate operators so no one spends too long exposed at height.
• Watch for early signs of heat stress. A worker feeling unwell on a raised platform is a serious situation that needs an immediate, planned response.
• Give the machine breaks too. If hydraulic or engine temperatures climb, pause and let it cool rather than pushing through.

For enclosed indoor sites where heat and fumes build up, electric boom lifts and scissor lifts remove engine heat and emissions from the equation entirely, which is often the safer choice in summer.

Plan around sand and dust

Blowing sand is the condition operators from outside the region rarely plan for. It cuts visibility, works into moving parts and coats sensors and control panels.

• If a sandstorm reduces visibility or brings high winds, lower the platform and pause work until it passes.
• Wipe down controls and sensors through the day, not just at the start of the shift.
• Re-check filters and intakes after dusty conditions, as build-up happens fast.

Keep competence and paperwork current

Good habits only protect a crew if the operator is properly trained. IPAF certification is increasingly expected by larger clients and contractors across the UAE, even where it is not strictly mandated, and it is the clearest evidence that an operator understands wind ratings, ground conditions and rescue procedures. Through the summer especially, treat toolbox talks and task-specific risk assessments as standard practice before work begins, rather than paperwork to catch up on later. A short daily conversation about the day's heat, wind forecast and rescue plan is one of the most effective safety habits a crew can build.

A summer routine: before, during and after the shift

Beyond training and one-off checks, summer calls for a specific routine that runs across the whole shift and keeps both the operator and the machine within safe limits. None of these steps are complicated on their own. What separates a safe summer operation from a risky one is doing all of them, consistently, on the routine days as much as the obviously extreme ones.

Before the shift

• Check the day's forecast for temperature, wind and dust, not just once in the morning but again before any exposed or elevated task.
• Confirm the machine's wind rating matches the machine actually on site, and have an anemometer available to re-check it as the platform rises.
• Complete the full daily pre-use inspection, including controls, filters, hydraulic fluid levels, decals and emergency lowering, since heat and dust accelerate wear faster than in milder conditions.
• Verify the machine's inspection and certification are current, and confirm personal IPAF certification has not lapsed.
• Plan the day's exposed, high-level tasks for the early morning where possible, ahead of the hottest hours.

During the shift

• Keep water on the platform at all times and drink before feeling thirsty, since thirst is already a late sign of dehydration.
• Watch for early heat-stress symptoms in yourself, such as fatigue, headache, dizziness or slowed concentration, and treat any of them as a reason to come down and stop, not push through.
• Re-check wind conditions as the platform elevates, since wind at height can be significantly stronger than what is felt on the ground.
• Observe the machine for signs it is struggling with heat, such as sluggish hydraulic response or unusual engine temperature, and stop work if something feels off rather than waiting for a full failure.
• Respect the UAE's Midday Break rule and avoid scheduling strenuous, exposed tasks through the restricted afternoon hours.
• Take scheduled breaks in shade or a cooled area, and rotate with another certified operator on long, exposed jobs rather than running a single person through a full hot shift.

After the shift

• Report any heat-related symptoms, however minor they felt at the time, so patterns can be caught before they become serious.
• Flag any mechanical irregularities noticed during the day, such as sluggish controls, unusual heat or warning lights, so the machine can be checked before its next use.
• Rehydrate and rest properly before the next shift, since cumulative heat exposure across several hot days increases risk more than a single hot day on its own.

Frequently asked questions

What should operators check before using a MEWP in summer?

A full daily pre-use inspection is essential: hydraulic fluid and coolant levels, controls and emergency lowering, filters and cooling intakes, safety decals, tyres and battery charge. Heat and dust make these checks more important in summer, not less.

How does UAE summer heat affect boom lifts and scissor lifts?

Heat thins hydraulic fluid and makes engines, batteries and cooling systems work harder, raising the risk of overheating and faults on poorly maintained machines. Operators should let the machine cool if temperatures climb and choose electric units for enclosed indoor work.

What wind speed is unsafe for aerial work in the UAE?

Most outdoor-rated machines have a maximum wind rating of 12.5 m/s (28 mph). Wind is stronger at height than at ground level, so operators should re-check wind speed as the platform elevates and lower it if the limit is reached.

Do operators need IPAF certification for summer work?

IPAF certification is increasingly expected by larger UAE clients and contractors even where not strictly mandated. It shows an operator understands safe operation, wind ratings and rescue procedures. Cherry Pickers Global can provide IPAF-certified operators on request.

Why Choose Cherry Pickers Equipment

Safe summer operation depends on equipment that is fit for the conditions, and that comes down to how a supplier maintains its fleet. Cherry Pickers Equipment sources machines from reputed rental fleets with strong maintenance histories, and keeps more than 90% of the fleet in rental-ready condition, so equipment arrives inspected, certified and ready to handle heat, wind and dust. Our team offers expert guidance on specifying the right machine for the site, provides trained and IPAF-certified operators on request, and backs it all with flexible arrangements built around how you actually work. Customer trust matters more to us than any single hire, which is why so much of our business comes from clients who come back.

Need reliable access equipment ready for UAE summer conditions? Browse the Cherry Pickers Global fleet or contact our team. We'll help you specify the right machine, delivered inspected and certified, ready to work across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.