If you work in a warehouse, then chances are you will need to operate a lift at some point. Sooner or later, you will need to access products on a high shelf or repair something in the high bay. Our team at Carolina Material Handling Inc. has extensive experience in supplying and operating lifts, and we want to help you use this kind of equipment as safely as possible. In this article, we’ll focus on scissor lift safety, going over a few common mistakes to avoid.
- Moving at Height – One of the most common mistakes people make when operating scissor lifts is moving the lift while the platform is elevated and someone is still on top. You might be tempted to do this in order to save time, but we strongly advise against it. Instead of moving the lift while it’s still extended, lower it, have your coworker get off, move it, let them get on, and then extend it again.
- Using Extra Equipment on the Platform – Another common mistake people make when using scissor lifts is trying to extend the height of the platform by stacking more equipment on top—for example, standing on a box or a chair on top of the raised platform to extend your reach a little bit further. Doing this greatly increases your risk of falling, so we strongly advise against it. Instead, find a taller scissor lift.
- Skipping the Daily Audits – Safety experts (including those on our team) recommend auditing your scissor lifts every day, before and after each use. A third common mistake people make when using these machines is to skip this crucial check. Instead of assuming it will work fine, go through the checklist and verify that each part of the machine is working before you use it, and go through it again when you store it for the night.
