Hydraulic Scissor Lift Safety and Maintenance

Written by: Brad Sylvester

There is more to acquiring a hydraulic scissor lift than just the purchase. A platform scissor lift is a large and powerful piece of machinery that can present significant safety hazards if not operated correctly by properly trained personnel. Therefore, an essential part of the acquisition process is the establishment of a training program for all workers who will operate the equipment. A well planned set of operating procedures can prevent accidents and keep your employees safe.

Hydraulic scissor lift: pedestrian safety

As with any powered vehicle, the operator of a hydraulic lift is responsible for the safety of any pedestrians in his vicinity. Some electric lifts operate very quietly and may not be noticed by pedestrians who are not facing the vehicle. Every training program must teach the vehicle operator how to operate the vehicle around pedestrians. This includes right of way rules, warning of approach, and proper procedures for entering blind intersections and corners. Safe operating speeds must also be established.

Safety of the hydraulic scissor lift operator

The main purpose of a hydraulic scissor lift is to lift an employee into the air. This introduces the risk of serious injury should the employee fall from the platform. Every training program must stress the importance of the employee being properly secured to the platform scissor lift with a safety line. There is never any excuse for an employee to detach his safety line while on an elevated platform. Similarly, a lift should have a reduced safe operated speed when the platform is elevated to prevent the possibility of roll-overs or tipping: many lifts have this precaution built in.

Unsecured objects

Depending upon your specific application, the operator may be using tools on the platform or collecting parts from elevated inventory storage racks. Every tool or piece of inventory can become a serious hazard to anyone below the platform. Training programs must stress the severity of this hazard and provide safe handling procedures for all tools and other objects that may be used on the platform.

Proper maintenance

Hydraulic scissor lifts must be kept in good working order with proper maintenance. As with any vehicle or piece of machinery, care must be taken to make sure fasteners such as bolts don't work loose over time. Each lift should have a maintenance checklist with daily, weekly and monthly maintenance requirements. Other maintenance may be based upon the accumulated hours of usage. Maintenance activities should be assigned to specific individuals so there is no question of who is responsible for each activity.

Your lift dealer should provide training and/or safety documentation when you make a purchase. Need to find a reliable dealer for your next lift? Try BuyerZone’s free request for scissor lift price quotes service. Just describe your basic requirements and we’ll match you to dealers who can meet your needs.