Essential Scissor Lift Safety Guide

Essential Scissor Lift Safety Guide

Meta description: Learn essential scissor lift safety tips & guidelines to prevent accidents. Get certified, inspect lifts, use PPE, & follow safety protocols.

This article provides essential guidelines for safely operating scissor lifts in construction and maintenance work.

It covers essential topics like operator training requirements, lift inspection, safe setup procedures, operating dos and don’ts, emergency planning, and best practices for maintenance and storage. Following the safety protocols outlined here can help prevent accidents and injuries when working with aerial lifts.

Key Takeaways:

• Get certified training on the scissor lift safety and operations before use.
• Inspect lifts daily and document checks for compliance with standards.
• Ensure stable surfaces, load limits, fall protection, and positioning per guidelines.
• Implement traffic control measures and restricted work zones for safety.
• Learn emergency procedures like manual lowering in case of power line failures.
• Perform routine maintenance as prescribed and store equipment properly.
• Follow all guidelines to use scissor lifts and prevent accidents at worksites safely.

Understanding Scissor Lift Safety

Scissor lifts, also known as aerial lifts, are commonly used in construction and maintenance jobs. They raise a platform in a scissor-like fashion using hydraulic or electric power. When operating scissor lifts, it is important to understand safety systems like guardrails, safety harnesses, and fall protection equipment.

Only properly trained workers should use scissor lifts after understanding manufacturer instructions, safety standards, weight limits, and hazards like tip-overs, falling objects, and overhead power lines.

With the proper safety knowledge, scissor lifts can be safely used at different work locations when following rules for traffic control, weather conditions, and fall protection.

Essential Safety Guidelines For Operating Scissor Lifts

When using aerial lifts like scissor lifts, it is essential to follow all safety guidelines and regulations. This includes proper training certification for lift operators, using required fall protection equipment, following manufacturer instructions for scissor lift operations, and implementing traffic control measures when scissor lifts must be used.

1. Operator Training Requirements

Operator training and certification are essential for safe scissor lift operation. Proper training ensures operators can thoroughly inspect lifts, understand safety systems like fall protection equipment, and familiarize themselves with lift controls and emergency procedures.

Certification

All scissor lift operators must complete certification training on safety and proper operation before using such equipment. Certification ensures operators have the required safety knowledge on lift components, hazard awareness like overhead power lines, and an understanding of lift capacity limits and stability issues.

Certification training covers understanding guardrails and scissor lift fall protection systems, lift positioning, and safety devices as per ANSI and OSHA scissor lift standards. Only certified and properly trained workers should operate scissor lifts after understanding the manufacturer’s lift safety standards and instructions to prevent accidents and injuries.

Refresher Training

Refresher training is essential for scissor lift operators to update their safety knowledge on new lift models, changing regulations, worksite hazards, and lift operation techniques. Regular refresher courses help operators maintain certification and follow the latest ANSI and OSHA scissor lift safety standards.

The training covers re-familiarization with lift components, safety systems like guardrails, fall protection equipment, lift capacity limits, and stabilization. It also emphasizes safe positioning to avoid overhead power lines and other hazards.

Refresher training reinforces understanding of traffic control measures, emergency procedures, lift inspections, and manufacturer instructions. This helps operators safely use a scissor lift at different work locations while following safety rules and preventing accidents.

2. Inspecting the Scissor Lift

Inspecting scissor lifts before each use is crucial to identifying any safety issues or damage. This helps prevent accidents.

Pre-use Inspection

A comprehensive pre-use inspection must be carried out daily by trained operators. It includes checking hydraulic fluids, structural components, safety devices, control functions, fall protection equipment, and stabilizers per manufacturer’s guidelines.

A thorough inspection helps ensure lifts comply with ANSI and OSHA safety standards to avoid injuries from faulty lifts.

Documentation

Inspections must be documented properly for record keeping. This documents the lift condition and safety compliance. Records also help track any repairs or maintenance needed on lifts over time.

Proper documentation is essential for lift safety training and ensures certified operators use only inspected lifts in good working condition.

3. Setup and Workplace Safety

Proper setup is essential when using scissor lifts at work locations.

Surface Inspection

The surface where the lift will be operated must be inspected by trained workers for stability and load capacity per manufacturer guidelines. Uneven or soft surfaces can risk tip-overs.

This inspection helps position lifts on stable ground away from overhead hazards, power lines, or other equipment to prevent accidents.

Perimeter Restrictions

Clear demarcation of the lift work area is necessary as per safety standards. Traffic control measures like barricades or warning signs help restrict access to other workers.

This provides fall protection from powered lines or falling objects for aerial lift workers. Only trained lift operators must be allowed inside taped areas for their safety.

4. Operating Scissor Lift Safely

Safe operation is critical when working with scissor lifts.

Load Limits

Lift operators must never exceed the weight limits specified by lift manufacturers. This includes the weight of workers, tools, and other materials being lifted. Overloading poses risks of tip-overs or equipment failures.

Operators also need awareness of proper lift positioning to avoid fixed objects or overhead hazards that can impact stability.

Fall Protection

All workers must wear fall protection equipment, such as safety harnesses with lanyards attached to the lift structure, per OSHA standards. This guardrail system protects them from falls if a lift moves unexpectedly.

Operators must also follow fall protection stabilization positioning guidelines for multiple worker lifts to ensure all safety.

Proper Positioning

Proper positioning of scissor lifts is essential for safety. Lift operators must ensure sufficient clearance from overhead hazards like power lines and other equipment or structures as per ANSI standards. This provides adequate falling object protection from above. As per manufacturer guidelines, positioning the lift also helps prevent tip-overs on uneven surfaces or slopes.

Operators must stabilize the lift on a flat surface away from unprotected edges to avoid drive-off accidents. Proper positioning also allows safe access for loading and unloading materials and implements traffic control measures to protect workers below.

5. Emergency Procedures

Being prepared for emergencies is an integral part of scissor lift safety.

Power Failure

Operators must undergo lift safety training to understand emergency lowering procedures using manual hand pumps in case of electrical or hydraulic failure incidents. This helps prevent injuries and allows workers to safely exit the platform using fall protection systems even during equipment malfunctions.

Medical Emergencies

All lift operators must be trained in basic medical response techniques as part of safety knowledge in case of on-site injuries. This includes carrying well-stocked first-aid kits and knowing emergency contact numbers.

Using proper communication methods, they can request assistance from other workers and implement traffic control measures to provide rescue access if required.

6. Maintenance and Storage

Regular maintenance and proper storage are essential for scissor lift safety.

Routine Maintenance

• Inspect hydraulic fluids, hoses, and pumps as per manufacturer guidelines
• Check structural components like frames, platforms, and guard rails for damage or corrosion
• Test emergency lowering systems, alarms, and safety devices according to ANSI standards
• Inspect tires and wheels for proper inflation and wear to prevent tip-overs
• Document all inspections and repairs as per OSHA record-keeping requirements

Proper maintenance ensures lifts comply with safety standards and prevent accidents from faulty equipment. Only trained workers should perform maintenance following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Scissor Lift Safety Tips

Here are some possible scissor lift safety tips, including:

• Scissor Lift Safety Training: Ensure all personnel receive comprehensive safety training before operating a scissor lift. This training should cover OSHA scissor lift requirements, American National Standards Institute guidelines, and best practices for operations.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while using a scissor lift. This includes a safety harness and any other PPE required by occupational safety regulations. PPE helps prevent scissor lift injuries in case of a fall or other overhead hazards.
• Fall Protection Measures: Use fall protection systems such as guardrails or fall arrest systems when working on scissor lifts at elevated heights. Ensure scissor lifts have guardrails to prevent workers from falling off the work platform. Always inspect guardrails before use to ensure they are secure.
• Avoid Overhead Hazards: Avoid overhead hazards such as power lines or door frames when operating a scissor lift. Maintain a safe distance from energized power lines and ensure scissor lifts are not operated near overhead obstructions that could cause accidents.
• Safe Operation Practices: When moving a scissor lift, be aware of your surroundings and avoid collisions with a fixed object or mobile equipment. Always use scissor lifts on stable surfaces and ensure the platform is fully raised and locked in position before use. Regularly inspect scissor lifts for any safety hazards and address them promptly to ensure they are used safely.