A spate of accidents involving scissor lifts has caused the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a hazard alert outlining employers’ obligations and preventive measures. Scissor lifts aren’t just used in warehousing; they also are common in the construction, retail, entertainment and manufacturing industries, among others. OSHA points out that over a one-year period it had investigated 10 fatalities and more than 20 other serious injuries it termed preventable involving scissor lifts. OSHA says it found that most of these injuries and fatalities were the result of employers not properly addressing fall protection, stabilization and positioning. OSHA reminds employers that 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. Training must at a minimum include manufacturer’s instructions for operating and moving the lift, handling materials on the lift, including weight limits, and other worksite hazards workers could encounter, such as contact with electrical wires. OSHA stresses that training must cover reporting any equipment defects or maintenance needs. Employer obligations include making sure the equipment is properly maintained, manufacturer’s instructions are followed, personal protective equipment is worn, and safe work practices are practiced. To avoid falls, lift platforms must have guardrails, and employees should be trained to check to make sure a guardrail is in place, only stand on the work platform, never stand on the guardrails, and keep work within easy reach to avoid leaning away from the lift. To assure stabilization OSHA notes that manufacturer instructions for safe movement usually rule out moving the lift in an elevated position. Isolate the scissor lift or implement traffic control measures to ensure that other equipment cannot contact the scissor lift, the agency says. Also select work locations with firm, level […]