As part of our effort to safely use lifts, the scissor lift inspection forms will include best practice principles on the back of the form. Continue using the lift inspection forms you currently have, this updated form will be slowly rolled out.
Lifts are one of the main ways that we access higher areas of work and when used correctly, help us to be more productive and safe. If used incorrectly, there are hazards that using a lift can cause. To stay safe, Berg employees are required to inspect the lift they plan to use, inspect the area they will be working in, and to follow safe use practices. Make sure you do the following when using a lift:
- Keep all hands and arms completely inside while moving the lift. With doorways, overhead plumbing, electrical, HVAC, ACT, and other potential hazards, keeping hands and arms inside the lift will prevent body parts from getting caught between the lift and a solid object.
- Stand only on the working platform, never on the toe-boards, mid or top rails. The rails of a lift are meant to keep a worker safely inside the lift and to prevent falls. Standing on the rails puts the worker in danger of falling out of the lift and being injured.
- When moving the lift, always look for overhead hazards. With so much overhead work, it is easy to miss something that could hit you as you move. Look for objects as you move up or down, or as you drive the lift.
- Position lift close to work area. Always avoid leaning out of lift. If your lift is too far away from your work, you may risk injuring yourself as you attempt to move materials far away from you or if you fall from your lift. Park your lift within easy arms reach of your work.
- All lifts are conductive, so no running over cords. Lifts do not protect those inside from electrical current. If the lift comes in contact with electricity, it can be passed on to the person and cause serious injury.
Keep these in mind and work to develop them as habits as you use lifts.
