How To Operate a Scissor Lift? A scissor lift is basically an aerial lift that lifts workers and tools to a platform. Scissor lifts can move up and down straight like an accordion using electricity, diesel fuel, or hydraulics. They are most commonly used in the warehouse for loading and unloading inventory, performing applications such as sign maintenance, ceiling work, and window work.
lift safety is the first thing you must learn in order to guarantee your security. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) obliges bosses to train workers on the ways to operate aerial lifts safely.
By means of this article, you will be trained on how to use the scissor lift, step-by-step, what the safety procedures are, and what to be careful about and how you will know if it is in a good condition to be operated.
Scissor Lift Controls
The platform, scissor legs (the section that expands to lift workers to a work area), a cylinder that powers the legs, the base, and the power source are the main components of the scissors lift.
With the help of the buttons and switches on the base and the platform, the lift can be operated. These buttons and switches let the operators be able to control different lift functions from the ground and overhead. Each machine has its distinctive control buttons, but these are the main ones.
Base Controls
- Emergency stop button — You can press this button to stop the lift. This action disconnects the control circuit. Also, you need to remove the emergency stop button to start the operation.
- Key switch — This option indicates whether the scissor lift can be controlled from the lower panel, platform console, or both. The lift will be operable from any of the panels if it is not put into the neutral position.
- Lower-neutral-raise switch — This is the one used to lift up or down the platform, or to keep the platform in the same (neutral) position.
- Indoor and outdoor settings buttons — In some of the machines, there is a control that allows you to switch between indoor and outdoor settings.
Platform Controls
- Mode selector — This is also referred to as the drive/steer control. There are two settings for this knob that will let the operator either drive the platform or to rise/lower it. That means no lifting the machine up or down when it is moving.
- Key switch — The platform machine can be turned ON and OFF from the platform.
- Joystick — After you have configured your mode selector well, you can use this one to navigate the lift. In the drive mode, moving the joystick forward moves the lift forward while pulling it back takes it the other direction. With lift mode, pulling the stick backward raises the platform and pushing forward takes them down.
- In drive mode, moving the joystick forward moves the lift forward and pulling back reverses it.
- In lift mode, pulling the stick backward elevates the platform; pushing forward lowers it.
- In drive mode, moving the joystick forward moves the lift forward and pulling back reverses it.
- In lift mode, pulling the stick backward elevates the platform; pushing forward lowers it.
- Emergency stop button — You just have to push this button to finish all operations.
- Speed switch — The speed means the adjustment of how faster or slower the machine can move.
- Steering — The wheels can be moved to the right or the left to control the direction of the equipment.
- Horn — This is what you use to alarm other unaware people that a scissor lift is in motion or that it is up in the air about to finish.
How To Operate a Scissor Lift
1. Take Safety Precautions
In addition to understanding how the lift controls work, it’s important to recognize what the safety precautions are and to be watchful for possible risks as well.
The specific concern in falls is the reason only scissor lifts have a railing through a safety gate. It’s necessary to have 3-point contact while entering the lift with your hands (holding the ladder railings) and a foot.
Once on the platform, remember to close and lock the gate behind you. Users should not stand on a platform in a way that would help them fall out, e.g. they are firmly standing on the floor, and do not lean over the platform. Here are several other safety measures to observe:
- Avoid exceeding the load capacity or carrying things that are larger than the platform.
- Use a 4-wheel drive rough-terrain model if working outside on the bumpy ground.
- Realize the climate changes and do not operate a scissor lift in the windy weather stronger than the manufacturer’s limit, which is usually 28 mph.
- Be sure to be aware of the clearance above, be it ceilings, cables, or power lines, which may accidentally kill due to electrocution.
- When getting to work, look at those environmental conditions like physical barriers, ground holes, and other workers.
Moreover, think about what PPE you need for the job for your safety and health. This may involve goggles, a helmet, a harness, and earplugs.
2. Conduct a Scissor Lift Safety Inspection
Before starting a scissor lift, a safety check should be done to avoid accidents. Must inspect the vehicle and lift components as well as be sure that it is the correct equipment for the specific job area (rough-terrain lift for the outdoors).
Make sure that all the controls are fully functional in both the upper and lower levels. It is very important that the stop button is reliable in case of any emergency and also the rest of the operation switches are operational and that they do what they are designed to do.
On the vehicle level, look for the following on your lift:
- Wheels and tires
- Fluids (check for leaks)
- Control panel functions
- Horn and backup alarms
- Gauges and lights
On the platform level, check the following:
- Control sticks used in operation/gpio function
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Fuel system
- Electrical system
- Guardrail system
- Assortment of fasteners and locking pins
- Fiberglass and insulating materials
- Cable and wiring harnesses
Also, check whether all functional and warning plates and throttle controls are visible, and ensure that there are no missing, loose, or defective parts for good.
3. Turn on the Scissor Lift
Priorty to starting the scissor lift get to know the environment where you are going to work. Firstly, the site must be on a flat level and a safe distance away from potential hazards such as inclines, waste, or gaps. The reason for this is that the scissor lift might be unstable when raised to the top which can lead to flips.
Deactivate the emergency stop buttons located on both the ground and the platform levels. Following that, use the controls and let the main switches be in place. Before you start the machine, you can unlock the rest of the gates(hopefully, nobody is there) and then enter the machine (hopefully, nobody is around). At the same time, turn off the alarm and be careful to place your feet firmly on the ground.
4. Position the Scissor Lift
After you are on the platform, activate the driving mode by the operating switch and move using a joystick to any position you want the lift to be. To actually execute this, push the joystick forward for it to go on or on the other hand, for it to reverse the direction, pull it backwards; to take a left, the left steer button on the top of the joystick is pressed; to turn right, the right button is clicked.
5. Raise and Lower the Platform
Once the lift is in place, raise the lift by moving the operating switch to the elevation (or lift) setting, push the joystick backwards, and go where the desired height is. Always look up first to check for close by overhead obstacles: you can easily hit your head on a low ceiling, or be hit by overhangs, tree branches, and utility wires. Also, select the workspaces for you to be at least 10 feet away from the electrical power sources and power cables.
You can usually extend the platform longer for better reach by using a locking side handle and a foot pedal. In the same way, one has to just unlock both sides and then start to move forward as one pushes outward the handle to extend the platform. Make sure the platform is locked when you finish extending it; bringing it in is an undoable act, you just have to undo the two locks and bring it back to the starting position before putting the locks again.
At the last point, when you have finished your work or you have to lower the platform to a lower level, you should simply push the joystick forward to move it down.
6. Shut Down the Scissor Lift
Suspend the shutdown procedure by ensuring the platform has been lowered to the bottom and confirm the emergency stop function of the controls on the platform and the base. Then, switch off the machine, and charge the battery or if needed refill it with gas.
Safety Measures for Scissor Lifts
In short, provided here are some safety tips for scissor lifts which you can use as a checklist before and during the execution.
- Fearing that the floor might crack down, do not operate a lift on a weak surface, take an off-road, or close the dump;
- Only in case your site is somewhere in the mountains, should your team have a specifically manufactured Cscissor lift to match such an environment.
- Don’t forget to always lower the work platform all the way down before you will move the equipment.
- Avoid working out in the open during severe weather, and don’t even think about lifting the scissor lift when windy is in the air.
- Do regular check-ups aimed at mechanical breakdown or collapse prevention, which include:Don’t exceed the maximum weight set by the manufacturer.Don’t load material that’s too bulky for the platform or hangs over the edge.Check the lift’s failsafe functions, such as the emergency stop button, before you use it.Never use other equipment to raise the work platform.
- Do not exceed the maximum weight.
- Avoid overloading it.
- Always test the failsafe features of the lift-included components, such as the emergency stop button, before using it.
- Only use the equipment that raises the work platform.
- Please do not exceed the maximum weight.
- Do not upload the oversized material and do not let it overhang from the platform.
- Make sure the failsafe feature of the lift operates properly, the emergency stop button, too, before you use it.
- Never use any other equipment to raise the work platform.
Do You Need a License To Operate a Scissor Lift?
Actually, nothing more than a simple driving license is required to operate a scissor lift or to perform a lift platform task. Scissor lift operation and scissor lift training are required if you want to use a scissor lift safely. Employers are required by OSHA to train employees in the correct operation of a scissor lift before they can use it, as already stated.
Site managers should also be trained as part of this safety training. They should explain the steps to be followed when using a scissor lift and dealing with materials and giving clear instructions on what kind of hazards are present on the worksite, as well as maintenance practices.
Conclusion
There are different types of scissor lifts to pick from. They can reach up to 50 feet and come in electric and four-wheel-drive outdoor models. If you need, you can rent a scissor lift.
Being familiar with its control panel and probable hazards as well as having the skill to operate it are essential is to use the scissor lift. You can find online scissor lift/aerial lift courses to assist you with learning this.
Once you are an expert of scissor lift, there is a lot of things you can achieve with it.
