Tips to Avoid Risks and Operate Scissor Lift Safely

Scissor lifts are used regularly for reaching work areas that are at higher elevations. Its crisscrossing arms elongate as the platform is raised to provide access to difficult-to-reach areas. You can substitute these lifts with a ladder, tower, or scaffolding as it can perform their functions more securely.

These lifts are simple to use but can be hazardous to workers when not properly maintained, serviced or used inappropriately.
Let’s look at some of the factors that pose a safety risk and how you can avoid them by following scissor lift safety tips.


Weather conditions- Operating scissor lift during inclement weather can pose risk to the life of lift operators. Avoid using the lift when there are high winds, heavy rain, lightning, and hailstorm. Also, avoid the usage if ice or snow gets accumulated on the platform. Most scissor lifts have a wind rating below 28 miles per hour. To stay on the safer side, discontinue work if wind speed exceeds 25 miles per hour.

It is advisable that you go for scissor rental only when weather conditions are favorable so that you can make optimal use of your rental equipment. But you don’t need to worry about the weather when working indoors. You just need to look up ‘electric scissor lift rental near me’ on the web and you will have numerous options to choose from.


Overloading- Loading the lift beyond its rated capacity could cause the lift to tip over, resulting in injury or even death of the user. To prevent any mishap, never overload a lift and make sure that the load doesn’t exceed the rated weight capacity of the lift. Don’t forget to consider the weight of any other workers and tools that will be on the lift along with you.

Check the lift’s specifications or read the operator's manual to determine how much weight can be loaded onto the platform. Under no conditions the weight on the work platform should exceed the manufacturer’s load rating


Uneven surfaces- Moving on uneven land could cause the lift to tip over if raised. Therefore, it becomes important to thoroughly inspect the area where the lift will be used. Look for any drop-offs or holes, slopes, ditches, bumps, debris, etc. and try to avoid them while using the lift.
If any of these are part of your worksite then try to make the ground stable and as level as possible. You may need to move the soil or lay down some "pads" to do so.


Power lines and other overhead hazards- When using the lift, watch for obstructions like power lines, transformers, branches, and overhangs. Maintain a safe distance from them. If possible, stay at minimum of 10 feet from power lines and transformers. Make sure there is sufficient clearance around the scissor lift before moving the platform.


Follow these scissor lift safety tips and you will be able to avoid a misha

Different Types of Suspended Scaffold

Scaffolds provide safer access to your work area. They are needed for the completion of
different projects like the construction of a tall building, maintenance or repair of industrial
buildings, or glazing. Various scaffold equipment includes suspended scaffold, baker scaffolding,
shoring, scissor lift, etc.
One of the widely used scaffolds in the construction business is the suspended scaffold. It has a
platform that has guardrails. This platform is suspended from an overhead structure, supported
by ropes that are not rigid. You can raise or lower it as per your access needs. It does not have
pipework and couplings.
These scaffolds are ideal for elevated construction like when you have to reach the outer side
of the upper floors of a building or if the structure is so high that other types of scaffolding
cannot be used. Contractors use these for repairing high-rise buildings, washing windows,
glazing, and other maintenance jobs.
Suspended scaffold comes in different models that can be used for different purposes. It has
eight different types with a two-point or swing stage being the most common of them all. These
scaffolds are:
Two-point or swing stage- In this scaffolding, the platform gets support from stirrup or hanger
and it is fastened by two ropes. It comes with a provision that you can raise it up or lower it
down.
Catenary- It involves a platform that is backed by two horizontal and parallel ropes. These
ropes are connected to the overhead structure. Vertical pickups may also be used to give more
support.
Float or ship- It consists of ropes connected to overhead structure and a braced platform that
rests on two parallel bearers. The ropes provide support to the platform.
Interior hung- This scaffolding has a platform that hangs from the ceiling or roof by ropes of
fixed length.
Multi-level- It has two or more multi-point adjustable suspension scaffold with platforms at
various levels. It gets support from the wired ropes.
Needle beam- A platform that is suspended from needle beam forms a needle beam scaffold.

Multi-point adjustable- In multi-point adjustable scaffold the platform gets support from more
than two ropes that are suspended from overhead supports. This scaffold can be lowered or
raised according to the needs of the user.
Single-point adjustable- Unlike multi-point adjustable scaffold, this scaffold is suspended by
one single rope from an overhead support. This can also be lowered or raised depending on
which level you are working on.
All these different suspended scaffolds serve different purposes. Contractors rent them based
on their specific requirements.