Scissor Lift Safety Regulations

Scissor lifts are used to elevate workers on a platform so that they can perform a task in hard-to-reach places. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responsible for setting scissor lift safety regulations so workers can be protected from hazards, such as falling.

Testing

• The lift controls on scissor lifts must be tested daily, prior to use, to ensure the equipment is in safe operating order. According to OSHA, only those who are trained and authorized to operate scissor lifts may perform testing procedures and operate the machinery.

Positioning

• Once the scissor life is in its fully extended position the lift may not be moved. To reposition the placement of a lift the operator must retract the lift to its cradled position and make sure outriggers are locked in. Attempting to reposition the scissor life while it is extended can cause the worker to lose his balance and fall.

Worker Safety

• Workers must stand firmly and with both feet on the floor as they are elevated on a scissor lift. Once the lift is in its fully extended position the worker can move around the platform. However, workers should never stand or sit on the guardrails of the lift.