Scissor Lift Safety Program

The Scissor Lift Safety Program establishes requirements for the safe selection, inspection, positioning, operation, travel, and maintenance of scissor lifts and mobile elevating work platforms. The program addresses common scissor lift safety hazards, including falls, tip-overs, crushing and entrapment, electrical contact, overhead power lines, unstable ground, collisions, falling objects, and equipment failure. Operators must be trained, evaluated, and authorized and must complete required pre-use inspections, functional tests, and worksite hazard assessments before operating a scissor lift. Requirements address scissor lift fall protection and guardrails, platform capacity, stability, ground conditions, elevated travel, electrical clearances, overhead obstructions, traffic and pedestrian control, wind and severe weather, emergency lowering, and rescue procedures. Employees must remain inside the guardrail system, keep both feet on the platform floor, avoid ladders or other devices used to gain additional height, and follow manufacturer operating limits. The program also addresses safe work around the scissor mechanism and pinch points, maintenance and repairs, equipment removal from service, operator training and retraining, inspections, and recordkeeping to help prevent scissor lift accidents and injuries.