Safety Tidbit #47 – Scissor Lifts and Fall Protection

Safety Tidbit #47 – Scissor Lifts and Fall Protection

Source:  OSHA Hazard Alert – Working Safely with Scissor Lifts

Employers need to assess the worksite to identify all possible hazards in order to select the appropriate equipment for the task. Employers who use scissor lifts need to evaluate and implement effective controls that address fall protection, stabilization and positioning. Only trained workers should be allowed to use scissor lifts, and employers should make sure that those workers show that they can use a scissor lift properly. Safe scissor lift use includes properly maintaining the equipment, following the manufacturer’s instructions, providing workers training and needed personal protective equipment (PPE), and implementing safe work practices.

Scissor lifts must have guardrails installed to prevent workers from falling [see 29 CFR 1926.451(g) or 29 CFR 1910.29(a)(3)(vii)).1910.66 Appendix C (10)]

Furthermore, employers should train workers to:

·      Check to see that a guardrail system is in place before working on the scissor lift.

·      Only stand on the work platform; never stand on the guardrails.

·      Keep work within easy reach to avoid leaning away from the scissor lift.

So what happens when you know the operation that the scissor lift is being used for requires the worker to lean over. The guardrails on the scissor lift are designed to keep them safe when the worker is inside. Ultimately, you want to protect them, right?? So what do you do? You put them in personal fall protection? However, make sure the personal fall arrest system meets all of the requirements.  Specifically, what are they going to tie off to?

Anchorages to which personal fall arrest equipment is attached shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two, under the supervision of a qualified person. I recently had two clients (almost back to back) that were using the top rail of the scissor lift as their anchorage points. The guard rail on a scissor lift meets the same requirements as any other guard rail in order to keep the worker inside and protect them from falling out. Specifically, the anchoring of posts and framing of members for railings of all types shall be of such construction that the completed structure shall be capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point on the top rail. [1910.23(e)(3)(iv)]

Now take a step back, remember how this Safety Tidbit started “assess the worksite to identify all possible hazards in order to select the appropriate equipment for the task.” You might want to use a boom lift instead. A boom lift gives the worker elevation and the ability to move the basket closer to where they need to be therefore, leaning outside of the basket may become unnecessary. Furthermore, all boom lifts have a properly engineered anchorage point so use of personal fall protection now can be done properly.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading Safety Tidbits  ~ Bryan

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