Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
According to both OSHA and HRSDC, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial machinery capable of lifting heavy and big loads that are balanced well. They are responsible for transporting employees and their materials to and from high elevations in an efficient and safe way. Since these mobile heavy equipment are classified as heavy machines, there are a lot of safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts.
Movement
Scissor lifts sit upon a wheeled base so they can move around to access a wider variety of areas. These pieces of machines have been designed to move heavier cargo, equipment and even employees down and up 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 equipment while it is being utilized. All employees working around a scissor lift as well as directly with the machinery have to be informed about its movement prior to the driver releasing the safety brake in order to make the lift move. Constant communication around heavy machinery helps keep the working place and all those in it safe.
Fall Protection
To be able to guarantee that employees prevent falling when using the machinery, there are several safety regulations to consider about forklift safety standards. Even though scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features such as guard rails placed around the lift perimeter in addition to a lock that must be engaged on the lift platform entrance each time the lift is being used. There are also slip guards in position for added safety.
Another good safety habit employees must make is ensuring that heavy loads or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a secure way before moving the lift to be sure that nothing causes anyone on the lift platform to become injured.