Scissor Lift Safety Tips: The Importance of Equipment and Site Inspection

Posted on July 15, 2010 | Category: Business Trivia, Featured

Before operating a scissor lift, there are safety precautions and guidelines that an operator should carefully observe and follow. These guidelines will help to ensure a safe working environment for everyone. The truth of the matter is, safe lift operation should be carried out by both the operator and the site manager. They should work hand in hand in order to ensure that safety procedures are employed on the site.

For lift operators, it is a must that they have a deep understanding on how to safely and efficiently operate the equipment. This is a must to prevent accidents and injuries. The site manager, on the other hand, should be able to oversee the operation properly. The manager’s main responsibility is to ensure that the whole operation will go smoothly. He is also responsible for the welfare of the lift operators. Furthermore, the managers are the ones who should implement the safety guidelines for using scissor lifts to the operators.

To ensure a safe scissor lift operation, walk-through inspection is definitely a critical step. It is highly advised to thoroughly inspect the scissor lift before the actual operation. This is done to ascertain that the lift is indeed safe to use and fully functional. The inspectors will have to test the emergency controls, safety devices, as well as other components to ensure that they are working properly.

Apart from that, they will need to check for air, fuel, and hydraulic fluid leaks. If there are any loose, damaged, or missing components, they have to pull out the scissor lift immediately for repair. Only a qualified mechanic should be allowed to do maintenance checks, replacements, and mechanical repairs on the scissor lift equipment.

Beside the equipment inspection, it is also a must to carefully canvass the site. This is necessary to ensure that the area is conducive for operating a scissor lift. As a rule of thumb, the area where the lift will be operated should be leveled and doesn’t have steep slopes. The area must also be free of holes, bumps, overhead power lines, and other hazards.

With all the scissor lift safety tips mentioned above, it only goes to show that site and equipment inspection play an important role in ascertaining a safe and efficient lift operation.

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