Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
Scissor lift machinery are called "moveable scaffolds," according to the OSHA. These industrial machinery are capable of raising heavy and big cargo which are well balanced. They are responsible for moving employees and their materials to and from high elevations in a safe and efficient way. Because these mobile heavy equipment are categorized as heavy machines, there are numerous safety standards which apply to the use and maintenance of scissor lifts.
Movement
Scissor lifts sit upon a wheeled base so they can move around to access a wider variety of places. These pieces of machinery have been designed to move heavier cargo, equipment and even employees up and down to work locations. For safety reasons, employees are not permitted to ride on a scissor lift while relocating. Typically, this is to help make sure that no one falls from the equipment while it is being utilized. All employees working directly with as well as around the equipment need to be informed about its movement prior to the operator releasing the safety brake in order to make the lift move. Constant communication around heavy machines helps keep the working environment and all people in it safe.
Fall Protection
There are some stringent safety regulations to follow about the safety standards for the scissor lifts in an effort to make sure that employees do not fall from the lift when they are utilizing it. Even though scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features like for example guard rails positioned around the lift perimeter as well as a lock which must be engaged on the lift platform entrance each time the lift is being used. There are also slip guards in place for added safety.
One more good safety habit employees should make is ensuring that heavy cargo or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a secure manner before moving the lift to be certain that nothing causes anybody on the lift platform to become injured.