OSHA Compliant Operator Certification and Training for Scissor Lifts
Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser
Following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and safety training for scissor lift operations are critical to protecting operator safety and legal compliance.
According to OSHA, “Only trained workers should be allowed to use scissor lifts, and employers should make sure that those workers show that they can use a scissor lift properly.”
In this article, we will explain:
Major hazards and safety concerns
Education and certification requirements
How to complete aerial lift operator certification online courses
The Importance of OSHA Lift Training
Any piece of equipment can be dangerous if the user doesn’t know how to operate it properly according to regulations. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), up to 400 workers are injured each year when operating aerial equipment.
Every incident is preventable. The most common types of injuries or fatalities include a lack of education about or inattention to fall protection, stabilization and positioning.
Fall Protection
This type of powered industrial truck (PIT) extends upward and can reach heights from which falls can be dangerous — even deadly. As such, these lifts must have suitable guardrails. A proper education helps operators understand:
How to inspect guardrails and other safety features before operating.
Where to stand on the work platform to avoid falls.
Safe limits for leaning away from equipment while in use.
The use of restrictive harnesses and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
Stabilization
Boom lifts and similar devices can tip over or collapse when improperly deployed. A qualified aerial lift operator ensures safe and stable conditions before leaving the ground. An aerial and scissor lift education helps users:
Ensure other construction equipment or trees cannot come into contact with equipment during a lift.
Select work locations with firm and level surfaces.
Move the vehicle only when lowered.
Avoid use during bad weather, such as high winds or lightning storms.
Prevent exceeding appropriate weight loads.
Positioning
Certified operators of aerial and scissor lifts will know proper procedures for positioning to avoid crushing hazards or electrocution hazards. Like users of other PITs and mobile scaffolds, workers must be cautious when the device is:
Near moving vehicles or other equipment.
Moving under fixed objects, such as support beams or door frames.
Close to energized power lines.
Electricity can arc or jump through the air from lines to the frame (or worker) even if there is no physical contact, which can result in electrocution, arc flash or thermal burns.
What Is the Difference Between Platform Lifts?
Scissor lifts and aerial lifts are often used in place of ladders or for hard-to-reach places. They provide better flexibility and mobility.
Scissor-style lifts are technically considered a powered type of scaffolding that raises workers and loads vertically, with maximum heights ranging from 15 to 50 feet or higher. But these platforms do not move laterally. The name comes from the crisscrossing support structure.
Scissor-style lifts provide stable and flat platforms for professionals working at heights. Such vehicles are typically used for indoor maintenance, warehouse operations and construction sites.
They differ from aerial lifts, which include boom arms that allow users to maneuver around obstacles. Common examples include cherry pickers and bucket trucks. These PITs can move both vertically and horizontally and are often used in construction, maintenance and utility work to reach extremely high or difficult-to-reach locations.
Both platforms require proper operation and training to be used safely, complying with OSHA regulations and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
Who Needs Education?
If you work on or around aerial equipment or mobile scaffolds, you need to be trained properly. You may need to complete coursework if you work in:
Construction
Utility line installation
Tree trimming
Warehouse operations
Facility maintenance
Videography
Window washing
Building inspections
House painting
Fire and Rescue
Demolitions
Platform Lift Training Requirements
Under 1926.454, employers must train all workers who operate or work with this type of equipment. Our Aerial and Scissor Lift Online course is fully compliant with OSHA standards.
Train at your pace to earn your lift operator credentials 100% online from any connected device. The course includes five end-of-module quizzes and a final exam to help you engage with lessons.
You must pass each assessment to complete the course with at least a 70% score. You have unlimited test attempts to demonstrate mastery. If you fail the final test, you can repeat it at no cost.
The course meets all the training requirements laid out in 29 CFR 1926.454 and includes modules covering:
Introduction to lift safety
Types of lift equipment
Procedures before use
Precautions during use
Procedures after use
Employees should finish scissor lift training certification before beginning work. Operators should also repeat training every three years to stay current on best practices or changes to safety standards. Employers may additionally require retraining in case of workplace accidents or if improper use is observed.
Upon completion of the online courses, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and a digital training certification card to serve as proof of your course completion.
Register for this online course now.
You may also be interested in these other Forklift and PIT Certification courses:
OSHA Education Center provides 10-hour and 30-hour Outreach Training in partnership with the University of South Florida. We also offer a full range of vital training courses in English and Spanish, covering more than 150 vital safety topics. Explore our course catalog to find the online training you need to achieve your career goals.