OSHA Issues Hazard Alert on Scissor Lifts
From OSHA’s Cooperative Programs –
OSHA has issued a hazard alert about the dangers of using scissor lifts to film events. A scissor lift is a portable, hydraulic-powered lift with a platform that can be raised into the air directly above the base. Scissor lifts are commonly used by colleges and high schools to film athletic and band activities.
In October 2010, a 20-year-old University of Notre Dame student was killed while filming the team’s football practice from a scissor lift that was blown over by high winds. The worker, who reportedly was not trained to properly operate the equipment, raised the lift more than 39 feet into the air on a day in which winds exceeded 50 miles per hour.
The OSHA alert lists hazards associated with scissor lifts, such as using a lift during bad weather or high winds, positioning a lift on soft or uneven ground or on uneven utility covers, and overloading a lift with heavy objects. The alert also provides guidance on how to reduce scissor lift hazards, such as inspecting controls and components before use, selecting work locations with firm and level surfaces and that are clear of electrical power sources, operating lifts only during weather conditions that are safe for use, and training workers on safe work practices and manufacturers’ recommendations for operating scissor lifts safely.
For more information, please see:
§ OSHA Hazard Alert: Student Worker Killed While Filming Football Practice from a Scissor Lift (July 2011)
§ OSHA News Release - “OSHA issues hazard alert on the dangers of using scissor lifts to film events” (July 6, 2011)