Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on scissors lift safety.
Scissors lifts are a helpful tool in the warehouse and manufacturing environment because they allow workers to perform tasks at a comfortable, ergonomically improved height. But they also can be dangerous if not used correctly.
Michael Renken, vice president of sales for Advance Lift, a leading scissors life manufacturer, said when scissors lifts are operated properly, they can actually improve worker safety.
“One of the biggest advantages of this equipment is that it helps the operator perform tasks at a comfortable working height, preventing ergonomic injuries,” Renken told Material Handling Product News.
Advance Lifts issued a special white paper on scissors lift safety in March to help educate its customers on proper and safe scissors lift operation.
Scissors Lifts Widely Used in Industry
Scissor lift are the most common type of adjustable tables used in manufacturing and warehouses, according to Ray Niemeyer, managing director of the Lift Manufacturers Products Section of the Material Handling Industry of America.
Scissors lifts are supported by pantograph legs that feature a single central pivot axis. When the table moves up, the legs unfold in a criss-cross, X-shaped pattern. Scissors lifts are commonly used in conjunction with conveyor belts to facilitate horizontal movement. They also can be attached to tilting devices so loads can be position both vertically and angularly for easy access.
But Brian Sturtecky, area director of the Broward County office of the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration, said that scissors lifts can be dangerous if they are overloaded, are used on uneven or unstable surfaces, or have had safety features such as guard rails removed.
Scissors Lift Accident Kills Two
In Port Everglades, Florida, two Broward County public works employees were killed and another critically injured after a four-story tall scissors lift fell onto a concrete dock where they were working, according to local news reports. The workers had been working on a gangway used by passengers to board cruise ships in a shipyard when the accident occurred.
Advance Lift’s Renken stressed that worker safety always needs to be the biggest concern. Any shear points that may be created between the edge of the moving platform and any adjacent object need to be eliminated. This can be accomplished by always leaving a four-inch gap between the two, he said.
Scissors Lift Safety Tips
In addition, there should always be three inches of clearance between the platform in its lowered position so that worker’s feet are protected. Some scissors lifts come equipped with 30-degree beveled toe guards, electric toe sensor that stop lift movement, guardrails, textured platform surfaces to protect loads from slipping, and expanded metal or mesh walls.
Bahrns carries a large selection of scissors lifts for any industrial or commercial application. Check out our scissors lifts products and accessories by clicking here.