Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts move straight up and down on a crisscross support. They’re stable on level ground, but they tip over on slopes, holes, curbs and soft ground, and they can crush you against ceilings and beams. Most scissor lift deaths come from three things: tip-overs, falls and crushing.

• Construction
• General Industry

The three big hazards

Fall protection in a scissor lift

A scissor lift’s guardrails are its fall protection. OSHA treats scissor lifts as mobile scaffolds. A harness is usually not required when the guardrails are complete and you stay on the deck, but follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your site rules. Many sites require tie-off to the designated anchor points. If you do tie off, use a short restraint lanyard so you can’t go over the rail. A long lanyard on a small scissor lift can pull the lift over in a fall.

Training

Under the ANSI A92 standards for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), operators must be trained on the type of lift, and then familiarized with the specific model they’ll use: its controls, safety devices, load limits and manual. Occupants must also know how to use the emergency controls. OSHA requires training on the hazards under the scaffold rules.

Pre-use check

• Operator’s manual and capacity decals present and readable
• Guardrails, gate or chain in place and secure; pins installed
• Deck extension locks in place
• Upper and lower controls work, including the emergency stop
• Emergency lowering works (know where it is and how it works)
• Tires, wheels and steering in good shape
• Batteries charged, fluid levels OK, no leaks from hydraulics
• Pothole protection bars deploy when raised (if equipped)
• Tilt alarm and load sensing work (if equipped)

Check the work area

• Floor or ground is firm and level, and can hold the lift’s weight
• No holes, drop-offs, floor openings, curbs, debris or ramps on the route
• Overhead: beams, ducts, pipes, sprinklers, lights and power lines
• Wind speed is within the outdoor rating
• Traffic and pedestrians controlled with cones or barricades

Safe operation

• Close the gate or chain once you’re in.
• Drive only on firm, level surfaces within the slope rating. Lower the platform before driving over anything uneven.
• Look up before raising, and raise slowly near overhead objects.
• Keep both feet on the deck and your body inside the rails.
• Stay within the rated capacity: people, tools and materials together.
• Follow the indoor/outdoor rating. Many outdoor scissor lifts are rated for winds up to about 28 mph; indoor-only models are rated for zero wind.

• Don’t stand on the guardrails, a bucket or a ladder to gain height.
• Don’t climb out of the lift at height unless it’s part of an approved procedure with fall protection.
• Don’t extend the deck beyond what the manufacturer allows, or load material on the rails.
• Don’t drive raised near holes, edges or loading docks.
• Don’t use the lift as a crane or tie loads to it.
• Don’t bypass tilt alarms, limit switches or pothole guards.

Charging batteries

Lead-acid batteries give off hydrogen gas while charging. Charge in a well-ventilated area away from sparks and flames, and wear eye protection when checking fluid. See Battery Safety.

Last updated: October 1, 2026