Aerial & Scissor Lifts

Afraid of Heights?

With an average of 200 deaths a year, falls continue to be the leading cause of death for construction workers.  Over 26% of workplace injuries and deaths are a direct result of slips, trips, and falls from one level to another.  OSHA’s standard on scissor lifts and aerial lifts covers guidelines on inspection, use and training of scissor, and aerial lifts with the purpose of maintaining employee safety while operating such equipment.

Below is a list of OSHA guidelines SafetyPlans.com covers to help you maintain employee safety!

• [1926.450] – Definitions related to the use of aerial and scissor lifts
• [1926.451], [1926.453] – General requirements
• [1926.452] – Requirements for specific types of scaffolds
• [1926.453] – Specific safety precautions to put in place while using lifts
• [1926.454], [1926.21(b)(2)] – Training related to scissor and aerial lifts

Does the Aerial and Scissor lift standard apply to me?

Simply put…Probably.  Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) employers are required to furnish each of their employees a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing, or likely to cause, death or physical harm.

More from OSHA's website:

Aerial and Scissor Lift Standard (29 CFR 1926.453) is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against hazards related to the use of Aerial and Scissor Lifts. It has provisions for the use of the equipment, inspections, hazard communication and training, and recordkeeping. The standard imposes requirements on employers of workers who may use or work around Aerial or Scissor lifts.