Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
Scissor lift machinery are known as "moveable scaffolds," according to the OSHA. These industrial machinery are capable of lifting heavy and large loads which are well balanced. They are responsible for moving employees and their supplies to and from high elevations safely and efficiently. Since these mobile heavy machines are classified as heavy machinery, there are lots of safety requirements that apply to the use and maintenance 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 equipment have been designed to move heavier loads, equipment and even workers up and down to work places. For safety reasons, workers are not allowed to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Usually, this is to help make certain that no one falls from the machine while it is being used. All employees working around a scissor lift as well as directly with the machine should 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 place and all individuals in it safe.
Fall Protection
There are several strict safety regulations to follow about the safety standards for the scissor lifts in order to make certain that employees do not fall from the lift when they are using it. Though scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features like guard rails placed around the lift perimeter along with a lock that has to be engaged on the lift platform entrance each time the lift is being utilized. 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 certain that nothing causes anyone on the lift platform to become injured.