Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
According to both OSHA and HRSDC, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial machines capable of lifting heavy and large cargo that are well balanced. They are responsible for transporting workers and their materials to and from high elevations efficiently and safely. Because these mobile heavy equipment are categorized as heavy machinery, there are numerous safety standards 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 equipment have been designed to move heavier cargo, equipment and even employees up and down to work areas. For safety reasons, workers are not permitted to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Usually, this is to help make certain that no one falls from the machinery while it is being utilized. All staff working around a scissor lift as well as directly with the machinery must be informed regarding its movement prior to the driver releasing the safety brake in order to make the lift move. Constant communication around heavy equipment helps keep the working place and all individuals in it safe.
Fall Protection
There are several strict safety rules to follow regarding the safety standards for the scissor lifts in order to make certain that workers do not fall from the lift when they are using it. Even though scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features such as guard rails positioned around the lift perimeter in addition to a lock that has to be engaged on the lift platform entrance whenever the lift is being used. There are also slip guards in position for added safety.
One more good safety habit workers should make is ensuring that heavy cargo or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a secure way prior to moving the lift to be sure that nothing causes anybody on the lift platform to become injured.