A full awareness of the distance to the lower level must be considered. Many operations performed on scissor lifts are done at an average height of 14 feet, so there is a high risk of striking a lower level or obstruction in the event of a fall if the necessary precautions are not taken. The average fall clearance required when utilizing a shock-absorbing lanyard can be in excess of 16.5 feet. Most SRLs have an average fall clearance of approximately 4.5 feet – less than half of the distance requirement for shock-absorbing lanyards.įall arrest systems require a basic fall clearance calculation before use. The design of the SRL allows worker mobility through the use of a retracting lifeline that recoils freely during normal working conditions and in the event of a fall will engage a locking mechanism. Industry-leading SRLs, weighing as little as 1.6 pounds, can be attached directly to the worker’s harness, making them convenient and comfortable for the user. Fall arrest system manufacturers have developed lightweight, versatile self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) that attach to an approved anchor point in the lift to help reduce the fall distances required by traditional shock absorbing lanyards. Once a designated anchor point is established, decide which lifelines and lanyards work best for each particular site. Most scissor lifts include an approved fall protection anchor point that clearly is marked to ensure a properly rated anchor point is used
Understand that a guardrail may not meet the required anchor strength, and if it does not, it renders your fall protection system useless. When installing a fall arrest system on a scissor lift, the anchor point location perhaps is the most important consideration. Fall arrest systems are designed to arrest a worker’s fall and reduce the arrest forces on the worker’s body to an acceptable level. A complete personal fall arrest system will include the anchor point, connector, body support and in the event of a fall, prompt rescue. One such corrective measure is the use of an approved fall arrest system. A competent person, as defined by OSHA, should evaluate the fall hazard and take corrective measures to eliminate it. Most scissor lifts meet the height requirement for guardrails as the only form of protection required (42 inches, +/- 3 inches), but there still exists the possibility a worker could fall through the space below the mid rails or over the top rail. Today, scissor lifts can be found everywhere: retail establishments, manufacturing operations, construction sites and any place that may require access to heights.Īccording to the American National Safety Institute (ANSI), guardrails are considered an acceptable form of fall protection however, guardrails do not completely eliminate the possibility of a fall from a scissor lift. When finished, it easily retracts and stores for future use. Once properly trained on its use, a worker can drive it directly to the work area and extend it to the desired height. The scissor lift remains a popular work tool, due in part to its ease of mobility and compact storage space. Several models also come equipped with an extending bridge, giving the user closer access to the work area. Scissor lifts use an “x” pattern, known as a pantograph folding support, to move the platform up and down vertically.
Although improvements in materials and safety have been made since then, the basic underlying design has stayed the same. The first scissor lifts were built in the 1970s. Many construction contractors utilize scissor lifts for employees working at height. OSHA requires the use of fall protection equipment anytime a fall of 6 feet or more is possible on a construction site. In fact, falls continue to be the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and as of 2011, falls rank No.1 on OSHA’s top 10 most serious violations. It’s important to realize working at heights always has its risks.
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