Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
According to both HRSDC and OSHA, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial equipment capable of raising heavy and large loads which are well balanced. They are responsible for moving employees and their supplies to and from high places in an efficient and safe manner. Since these mobile heavy equipment are categorized as heavy machines, there are numerous safety requirements that apply to the use and maintenance 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 machinery have been designed to move heavier loads, equipment and even workers up and down to work places. For safety reasons, workers are not permitted to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Typically, this is to help make sure that no one falls from the equipment while it is being utilized. All staff working directly with as well as around the equipment have 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 machinery helps keep the working environment and all those in it safe.
Fall Protection
There are several stringent safety rules to follow about the safety standards for the scissor lifts with a purpose to make certain that employees do not fall from the lift when they are utilizing it. Though 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 each and every time the lift is being utilized. There are also slip guards in place for added safety.
One more good safety habit employees should make is ensuring that heavy loads or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a safe way before moving the lift to be sure that nothing causes anyone on the lift platform to become injured.