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I was walking a facility earlier last month and saw one of the new model scissor lifts. The plant manager asked me if I knew anything about one of these, and, well, I had to say no. It may have had the most futuristic control console I’ve ever seen. I’m Marty with you here today with Warehouse and Operations as a Career. Now I’ve operated several scissor lifts and a couple of different Ariel lifts for that matter before, but this was the first one of this type I’d seen. Come to find out his real question was had I ever been certified to operate it? As we’ve learned before, in order to be certified we have to be observed operating it on his dock. And of course, been through a 29cfr1910.178 course with a trainer, where we would have learned exactly how to operate the unit and all its unique Safety concerns. I asked hadn’t the manufacturer or salesman supplied him that instruction? He shared they had said something about it and maybe it’d been scheduled for next week sometime. I told him I’d get on the phone and find out and I’d make sure everyone I planned to have operating it probably should attend that training. Now of course I’m more than confident that I could had climbed up on the platform and have no problem performing the task with it but, as we all know, I’d need to be trained and observed on it before I’d even touch it right? I went and looked up a little more information on scissor lifts and learned they are not compared to Ariel lifts and are actually more closely associated with scaffolding. I ran across a really informative Hazard Alert at https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3842.pdf Working Safely with Scissor Lifts. Now, as with any publication I’d strongly suggest you seek guidance from your employer or a local OSHA Outreach trainer with specific questions about any piece of equipment, but I thought this 2016 article mentioned some really good points.
Scissor lifts provide a safe and reliable platform for workers to perform job tasks when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When not used properly, scissor lifts can present a serious hazard to workers. Employers are responsible for keeping workers safe. This Hazard Alert highlights specific hazards present in workplaces where scissor lifts are used, and controls employers must implement to prevent injuries or fatalities.
The Alert starts with an Introduction: Scissor lifts are work platforms used to safely move workers vertically and to different locations in a variety of industries including construction, retail, entertainment and manufacturing. Scissor lifts are different from aerial lifts because the lifting mechanism moves the work platform straight up and down using crossed beams functioning in a scissor like fashion. Although scissor lifts present hazards similar to scaffolding when extended and stationary, using scissor lifts safely depends on considering equipment capabilities, limitations and safe practices. Over a one-year period, OSHA investigated ten preventable fatalities and more than 20 preventable injuries resulting from a variety of incidents involving scissor lifts. OSHA’s investigations found that most injuries and fatalities involving scissor lifts were the result of employers not addressing: • Fall Protection • Stabilization • Positioning.
The next sections explain How To Safely Use Scissor Lifts and covers Fall Protection (see 29 CFR 1926.451(g) or 29 CFR 1910.29(a)(3)(vii)). Stabilization and Positioning. It mentions how dangerous high winds can be if we’re outside using a lift. I once had an employee using a scissor lift out in the truck yard, changing the light bulbs up on the, what’d you call them, I guess the parking lot light poles. Anyway, I thought it was too windy to be out there. From the ground it looked like the entire unit was swaying back and forth. I had him come in, I figured we could change the lights anytime. He didn’t agree with me and felt he’d have been fine to finish. I don’t know what could have happened, but I know we both went home safely that night. It goes on to speak to Maintaining the Lift and following the Manufacturer’s instructions.
The next section addresses Training Workers. Employers must provide workers training on hazards, including how to work safely with or near scissor lifts. (29 CFR 1926.454). Training must, at a minimum, include: • Manufacturer’s instructions for operating the scissor lift vertically and while in transit. • How to handle materials on the scissor lift, including weight limits. • Other worksite hazards workers may encounter when working on a scissor lift (e.g., contact with electrical wires). • Reporting any equipment defects or maintenance needs.
OSHA Standards Employers must comply with the following OSHA standards (29 CFR) to protect workers from hazards associated with scissor lifts. General Industry • 1910.23 – Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes • 1910.28 – Safety Requirements for Scaffolding • 1910.29 – Manually Propelled Mobile Ladder Stands and Scaffolds (Towers) • 1910.333 – Selection and Use of Work Practices Shipyards • 1915.71 – Scaffolds or Staging Construction • 1926.21 – Safety Training and Education • 1926.451 – General Requirements • 1926.452 – Additional Requirements to Specific Types of Scaffolds • 1926.454 – Training Requirements Additional Information Many scissor lifts are covered under OSHA’s Scaffolding standard. For technical assistance, please refer to OSHA’s eTool and other resources on scaffolding. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has standards for manufacturing, owning and operating scissor lifts. They can be found in ANSI A92.3-2006 (Manually Propelled Elevating Aerial Platforms) and A92.6-2006 (Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms).
Really, just like all of our warehouse or light industrial equipment, if we know how it works, what safety concerns it may present and have been trained on that safe operation, it’s another great tool to achieve our tasks.
A quick follow up on the facility’s new unit, everyone attended that training and although it’ll only be used occasionally, I feel good that the Manager had it parked and didn’t even consider anyone operating it until the trainer came out and conducted the course for them. I only wish I could have attended and been allowed to operate it. Those controls looked awesome!
You know another piece of equipment that can be taken for granted and not much thought given to’em are our balers. You know, where we bale up our cardboard or shrink wrap. OSHA has some great information on balers, I’ll include that link in today’s show notes as well. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/recycling/recycling_cardboard_baling.html
These units can be really dangerous if we use them improperly. Remember, they are machines. And we’ve learned that we are never to operate any machine or equipment that we have not been properly trained on and certified or authorized to operate. True or False? I hope we all said true or shook our heads up and down just then. Seriously, these machines work under high pressure, crushing pressure if you will. One of my concerns are those door locks, they look super heavy duty, don’t they? Ever considered how they’d swing open if a weld or latch failed during the compacting cycle. I never stood anywhere near those doors after pushing the compact button. I’d make everyone step away. I got laughed at a lot but again, we all would go home every night! Even carrying the bailed product across the docks can be dangerous, ever think of the weight of those things? I used to stack them; we have to stack them securely. They could easily crush us if they fell back on us. And those units can be considered a confined space depending what type we’re working with. All the safety guards have to be in place before operation, I always did a walk around them before I’d use them! The page I mentioned listed the OSHA Standard Requirements for us too. Specific OSHA standards that apply to baling and compacting equipment include:
29 CFR Part 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined Spaces
29 CFR Part 1910.147, Lockout/Tagout of Energy Sources
29 CFR Part 1910.212, Machine Guarding
Again, all the equipment we’ll experience throughout our operations careers can be operated safely. It is our responsibility to know the equipment, know its safety concerns and how to operate it properly and safely. It’s our duty, our job to follow those rules, standards and laws. If we never operate or even touch a machine or piece of equipment that we have not been trained on and authorized or certified to operate we stand a much greater chance of not ever having an accident!
If you operate a scissor lift during the course of your duties or have to work with a cardboard or shrink wrap baler share your thoughts with us, send me an email to host@warehouseandoperationsasacareer.com or maybe start a conversation on our Twitter or Facebook feeds using that little @whseandops.
Well, we’ve wrapped up another week. Until then be safe, learn something new about your equipment or machines, maybe check them out at OSHA.gov. I bet you’ll learn something new about their Safe Operation!