This week’s Toolbox Talks focuses on scissor lift safety. As you know, EPS has several scissor lifts within its inventory that are used daily on a variety of commercial electrical, low-voltage, and fiber projects. Understanding the safety rules and proper operation of scissor lifts is obviously critical to our company’s success in serving our customers and ensuring projects can be completed. Although scissor lifts present hazards like scaffolding when extended and stationary, using scissor lifts safely depends on the consideration of equipment capabilities, limitations, and safe practices. Last year, OSHA had to inspect many preventable fatalities that occurred on construction jobsites. Of those investigations, OSHA found that most of the fatalities were the direct result of operators not fully understanding the rules of fall protection, stabilization, and positioning.
Scissor Lift Fall Protection Requirements: The scissor lift’s guardrail system is one of the most important aspects for fall protection. According to OSHA guidelines, all scissor lift operators should:
· Ensure a guardrail system is in place and stable before working.
· Position the scissor lift to avoid overreaching away from the work platform.
· Always stand on the work platform, not the guardrails.
· Keep a firm stance with both feet on the platform floor.
Stabilization: Scissor lifts should be used on firm level surfaces and workers should avoid using scissor lifts when high winds are present. Collapses are very rare, but in order to avoid those, workers should make sure the weight loaded does not exceed the manufacturer’s load ratings.
Positioning: Improper positioning of a scissor lift can create both crushing and electrocution hazards. Obviously, be especially careful when operating a lift near other large objects or power lines or sprinkler water systems. One of the first things you should do when a scissor lift arrives on your jobsite is survey the jobsite. It is one of the most important tasks you can do by ensuring you know the potential safety hazards on the jobsite before you start working on a scissor lift.
Those of you who have used a scissor lift on a jobsite have probably experienced placing wire reels, strips of conduit, lights, and other items up on the floors and railings of the scissor lift while working. Some of those loose materials can also become hazards from above or for those standing and operating the scissor lift. Those items can be placed on the floor of the scissor lift while working if the operator has both feet on the floor of the scissor lift at all times and no tripping hazards are present. The main point is to ensure both of your feet are placed firmly on the floor of the scissor lift. No one should ever stand on the railings or use a ladder or box to stand on to reach the object you are attempting to reach.
Since our scissor lifts are used basically every day, it is also critical to make sure that when you are done using the scissor lift, all items and materials should be removed from the scissor lift before they are picked up and brought back to the shop or moved to the next jobsite. Keeping the lifts clean and operational are also a critical factor when it comes to safety. If you notice any mechanical or maintenance issues with the scissor lift you have been assigned, please notify our Warehouse Manager, Mark Hines, so he is aware of the issue and can complete the repair to the lift. When a scissor lift comes out to your jobsite, make sure to test and inspect the lift’s controls and components before each use. Ensure the guardrails are in good working conditions and verify the brakes will hold the scissor lift in position. Remember to always assess your worksite to identify any possible hazards before operating the scissor lift. We will plan to provide more information about scissor lifts in future toolbox talks. If you are a Lead in the field, we ask that you review this information with your team and discuss some of the critical safety issues while operating a scissor lift.
Thank you reading and we hope those of you who witness any near-misses to please take a moment to send us your information. Also, remember to continue practicing your COVID-19 safety procedures. I feel most people are starting to get sick of wearing a mask or maybe getting more relaxed about wearing the, and also forgetting to washing their hands, but if we let our guard down, we all become vulnerable to the pandemic. Stay safe and share your COVID-19 safety practices with your family, so they also practice social distancing, handwashing, and the wearing of masks especially as many students return to school. Stay safe and stay healthy.