Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
Based on both HRSDC and OSHA, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial machines capable of raising heavy and large loads that are well balanced. They are responsible for moving employees and their materials to and from high places efficiently and safely. Since these mobile heavy machinery are categorized as heavy machinery, there are many safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts.
Movement
Scissor lifts sit upon a wheeled base so they could move around to access a wider variety of places. These pieces of machines have been designed to move heavier loads, equipment and even workers up and down to work areas. For safety reasons, employees are not permitted to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Typically, this is to help make certain that no one falls from the machine while it is being used. All staff working around a scissor lift as well as directly with the equipment need to be informed regarding its movement prior to the operator releasing the safety brake in order to make the lift move. Constant communication around heavy machines helps keep the working environment and all people in it safe.
Fall Protection
There are several stringent safety regulations to follow about the safety standards for the scissor lifts in order to make sure that employees do not fall from the lift when they are using it. Although scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features such as guard rails placed around the lift perimeter along with a lock that should be engaged on the lift platform entrance every time the lift is being used. There are also slip guards in place for added safety.
Another good safety habit workers must make is ensuring that heavy loads or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a safe way prior to moving the lift to be certain that nothing causes anyone on the lift platform to become injured.