Aerial Work Platform Safety

Scissor lifts are efficient one-direction lifts. They provide a solid surface to work from, but always remember:

• Guardrail, mid-rails and toe-boards must be in place. The toe board can be omitted at the door.
• The platform must be equipped with a mechanical parking brake that will hold the unit securely on any slope it is capable of climbing. The brake should be tested periodically.
• Never use the lift’s rails, planks across the rails, or a ladder, to gain additional height.

There are unique hazards for man-lifts. Man-lifts can move in more than a single direction, increasing the risk of mishaps, so it’s important to remember the following:

• Whenever working out of a man-lift, a full body harness must be worn, and properly attached to the basket. Sudden jolts have thrown people from man-lifts before they could react.
• Always maintain a safe distance from debris piles, drop-offs, floor openings, etc.
• Never drive the man-lift when it is elevated above the limit the manufacturer considers safe. Each piece of equipment will state what the maximum extension can be while being driven.
• Used correctly, aerial work platforms can be priceless, timesaving assets. Operate them without regard to their limitations, and this same equipment will put you, and those around you, at undue risk.