Scissor lifts are invaluable tools for workers needing access to remote locations; however, they present several hazards that can harm workers. These risks include tip-overs, electrical risks, and overhead hazards while elevated.
Workers should familiarize themselves with and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when operating scissor lifts, particularly their safety instructions. Scissor lift rental without safety training can be very dangerous for employees.
Proper Training
Construction and maintenance tasks at great heights require appropriate tools, including scissor lifts. Employees using scissor lifts are able to reach elevated spaces quickly. Unfortunately, however, improper operation of this machinery poses serious risks to workers’ lives. This is also true for scissor lift rental.
Untrained or inexperienced lift operators are vulnerable to accidents that could result in serious injuries, property damage, and fines from OSHA. Implementing top-quality scissor lift training programs helps mitigate this risk while protecting workers.
Lack of safety protocols and procedures may result in the collapse or tipping over of a scissor lift, endangering both its operator as well as coworkers, observers, and passersby below it. Furthermore, it’s critical that the combined weight of workers, tools, and equipment does not exceed the manufacturer-stated load limit for safety’s sake.
Pre-Start Checks
Scissor lifts should undergo visual and function tests prior to each shift beginning, in line with manufacturer specifications. Such inspections may detect any malfunctions that might compromise safety or productivity; any damages or dysfunction should be immediately reported and kept out of service until repaired.
The use of a checklist makes inspections simpler. It ensures all steps required by law are completed, thus decreasing errors or oversights.
Scissor lift accidents can be devastating. Tip-over accidents, which often occur due to overloading or improperly loading the machine or due to being on unstable ground, can have fatal results. Training programs can help mitigate such hazards by teaching employees how to load a scissor lift safely as well as inspect it regularly.
Stabilizing the Platform
Even with the right scissor lift in their possession, operators should ensure the ground they’re operating on is stable. A scissor lift may tip over on unstable surfaces and cause severe injury or equipment damage if used on these unstable surfaces.
To avoid this scenario, it is vital that operators’s manual is thoroughly read and use a simple formula to assess the percentage of slope grade. If this exceeds its maximum slope rating for the machine, winching or hoisting might be better than driving across sloping areas. Drivers should limit driving speeds when on slippery or unstable surfaces to reduce risk.
Attracting scissor lift drivers requires providing them with an ideal work environment and proper training, along with OSHA and ANSI regulations applicable to their work, including scissor lift drivers. Ignoring OSHA or ANSI rules could put employees at risk; regular safety drills and pre-shift inspections could also help.
Fall Protection
Fall protection is an essential element of scissor lift safety. Given their height, workers must employ two lines of defense against falls: guardrails from the lift itself and personal fall arrest systems (PFRSs) or full body harnesses equipped with shock-absorbent lanyards to avoid falls.
Under certain conditions, it may be necessary to secure the lift to an anchor point outside (e.g., steel angles welded into its rail system or rings on its floor). When doing so, do so only under guidance from your manufacturer and according to regulatory standards.
Prior to elevating a lift, it’s also critical to thoroughly assess the work area. Uneven terrain or exceeding load capacity could cause the machine to tip over, endangering not only its operator but also nearby workers. Furthermore, an overhead scan may reveal unexpected hazards, such as live electrical wires, that could result in collision or electrocution hazards.
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