Safety Requirements for Scissor Lifts
Scissor lift machinery are referred to as "moveable scaffolds," according to the OSHA. These industrial machinery are capable of lifting heavy and big cargo that are well balanced. They are responsible for transporting employees and their materials to and from high areas in an efficient and safe manner. Since these mobile heavy equipment are categorized as heavy machinery, there are many safety requirements 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 areas. These pieces of machinery have been designed to move heavier loads, equipment and even workers down and up to work areas. For safety reasons, workers are not permitted to ride on a scissor lift during the relocation process. Usually, this is to help make certain that no one falls from the machinery while it is being used. All employees working directly with as well as around the machine must be informed about its movement prior to the driver releasing the safety brake in order 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 some strict safety regulations to follow about the safety standards for the scissor lifts with a purpose to make certain that workers do not fall from the lift when they are operating it. Even though scissor lifts are not required to be enclosed, there are features like guard rails placed around the lift perimeter as well as a lock which should be engaged on the lift platform entrance whenever the lift is being utilized. There are also slip guards in place for added safety.
Another good safety habit employees must make is ensuring that heavy loads or anything on the lift platform is fastened down in a secure way prior to moving the lift to be certain that nothing causes anyone on the lift platform to become injured.