Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
According to both HRSDC and OSHA, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial machinery capable of raising heavy and big loads which are balanced well. They are responsible for transporting employees and their materials to and from high areas safely and efficiently. Because these mobile heavy equipment are categorized as heavy machinery, there are a lot of safety requirements which 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 areas. These pieces of machinery have been designed to move heavier loads, equipment and even workers down and up to work locations. For safety reasons, employees are not permitted to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Generally, this is to help make sure that no one falls from the machine while it is being utilized. All employees working around a scissor lift as well as directly with the machine 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 environment and all individuals in it safe.
Fall Protection
There are some stringent safety regulations to follow about the safety standards for the scissor lifts in order to make sure that workers do not fall from the lift when they are operating it. Although scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features like guard rails positioned around the lift perimeter in addition to a lock which must be engaged on the lift platform entrance whenever the lift is being used. There are also slip guards in place for added safety.
One more safety habit that workers must consider is to make sure that all loads are fastened safely prior to any lifting. This must ensure that nothing on the lift platform causes anybody to be injured.