If you’re hiring or buying a scissor lift you shouldn’t assume you immediately know how to use it correctly. There are a few things you and your team will need to know before you begin operation and these are important to ensure you don’t risk someone hurting themselves.

Take a look below at the risks and management tips we’ve highlighted.

It’s true that scissor lifts are one of the most versatile and easy-to-move pieces of machinery that you can find, though they’re also pretty dangerous if you’re using it without prior experience or any real training. That said, there are regulations in place which will require you to be supervised and also have a plan if you’re working at at a certain height.

Remember, in the workplace and on outdoor worksites the biggest killer of Australian workers is a fall from a great height whilst operating machinery. Don’t take the risk in your workplace and make sure everyone knows what he or she are doing when operating a scissor lift.

There are also two main types of scissor lifts. The smaller and more manageable scissor lifts for things like lifting smaller objects around the workplace, like the ones you can find from Sitecraft, and those which are larger and used to lift people and other equipment to high places.

We’ll be outlining the risks and management of the larger models, though rules and tips apply to both types.

To keep yourself and your colleagues safe when operating a scissor lift there are a number of things you should do.

We’ve listed a few of these things below:

-Never start using a scissor lift without checking the entire machine or piece of equipment over first

-If you’re not trained to use it or don’t feel comfortable then don’t use the scissor lift

-If the weather isn’t on your side and it’s raining or windy then refrain from using the scissor lift

-Don’t ever overload the scissor lift. Check the maximum weight and don’t add any extra or you’ll be at risk of tipping it over

-Make sure to completely lower the scissor lift before moving it around. If you drive or push the scissor lift on uneven ground with a lot of weight in it, it could fall over 

-Never lean or stand on the guard rails for extra support. These are only to stop accidental falls and aren’t designed to hold weight

-Never operate a scissor lift near or below power lines, branches or overhangs

-Before doing any lifting, make sure the machine’s brakes are on

-Don’t ever use the scissor lift on an uneven surface or on an unstable muddy site

-Don’t become complacent and push safety to the back of your mind. Always be aware of the dangers

To give yourself and your team the best chance at operating your scissor lift without any issue and in the safest way possible you should look at your local regulations before any operation. To meet these regulations you’ll notice that you need someone who’s comfortable, competent and is supervised to operate the scissor lift.

Adhering to just the basics should be enough to make your scissor lift operation much safer. Also remember, you have to have your scissor lift inspected every 6 to 12 months depending on where it’s operating and records of these inspections have to be kept.

Keep in mind that if you’re the owner of the scissor lift that you’ll be the one who is in charge and liable for organising these inspections.

This part is a little complex, but you’ll most likely need insurance for the scissor lift itself which covers damage or theft, and then you’ll need your typical public liability insurance to cover you and your business against damage to property.

Remember this as part of your scissor lift safety checklist as you’ll want to make sure that in the unlikely event there is an accident that you can pay for it and it won’t cause too much damage to your business.