Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
According to both HRSDC and OSHA, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial machines capable of raising heavy and large loads which are well balanced. They are responsible for moving workers and their materials to and from high elevations safely and efficiently. As these mobile heavy machines are categorized as heavy equipment, there are lots of safety requirements which apply to the use and maintenance of scissor lifts.
Movement
Scissor lifts could be moved on wheels or driven around to make them able to access various areas. These pieces of machinery have been designed to move heavy loads, people and equipment up or down from height. For safety reasons, workers 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 machinery while it is being utilized. All staff working directly with as well as around the equipment must be informed regarding its movement prior to the driver releasing the safety brake to be able to make the lift move. Constant communication around heavy machinery helps keep the working place and all those in it safe.
Fall Protection
In order to ensure that workers prevent falling when utilizing the machinery, there are some safety rules to think about about forklift safety standards. Even if 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 should 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 good safety habit workers must make is ensuring that heavy cargo 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.