Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
According to both HRSDC and OSHA, scissor lifts or "movable scaffolds" are industrial machinery capable of raising heavy and large cargo that are balanced well. They are responsible for transporting employees and their supplies to and from high elevations safely and efficiently. Because these mobile heavy equipment are classified as heavy machinery, there are lots of safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts.
Movement
Scissor lifts can be moved on wheels or driven around to make them able to access a variety of places. These pieces of equipment have been designed to move heavy loads, people and equipment down or up from height. For safety reasons, employees are not allowed to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Generally, this is to help make certain that no one falls from the machine while it is being utilized. All staff working directly with as well as around the machine have to be informed about its movement prior to the operator releasing the safety brake to be able to make the lift move. Constant communication around heavy machinery helps keep the working environment and all people in it safe.
Fall Protection
To be able to guarantee that workers prevent falling when operating the machine, there are some safety rules to think about about forklift safety standards. Though scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features like guard rails positioned around the lift perimeter as well as a lock which needs to 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 employees must make is ensuring that heavy cargo or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a safe manner before moving the lift to be certain that nothing causes anyone on the lift platform to become injured.