In brief
Most accidents with scissor lifts and boom platforms arise from not checking the ground, wind and load limit, attaching to the wrong point in the basket, and entrapment under the ceiling. The platform is checked by the operator before every shift, undergoes periodic inspection at least once a year to the criteria of TS EN 280+A1, and is used only by trained, designated persons.
Scissor lift safety: first choose the right platform
Rack installation in the warehouse, lighting replacement in the factory, facade work on the construction site… Mobile elevating work platforms are the most practical way of working at height without erecting scaffolding. Scissor lift safety, however, depends less on the equipment itself than on where and how it is used. The same platform is safe on a level concrete floor and dangerous on backfilled soil or in strong wind.
Called a "mobile elevating work platform" in the legislation, it is known on site as a personnel lift or manlift. There are two main groups:
| Platform type | Mode of movement | Typical use | Prominent risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scissor lift | Rises vertically, the basket stays above the base | Ceiling, lighting, racking and indoor installation | Overturning on sloping or uneven ground, entrapment under the ceiling |
| Articulated (boom) platform | The boom folds to reach over an obstacle | Facades, above machinery, pipelines | Catapult effect, falling from the basket on sudden movement |
| Telescopic boom | The boom extends to give horizontal reach | High facades, steel structures | Overturning moment, approaching power lines |
| Vehicle-mounted boom platform | On a truck chassis, with outriggers | Street lighting, signage, tree pruning | Ground collapsing under outriggers, traffic |
These platforms are designed to the TS EN 280 standard, and their periodic inspections are carried out to the criteria of this standard; for the inspection intervals of other equipment, see our article on periodic inspection intervals for work equipment. Ask three questions when choosing: what working height and horizontal reach are needed, is the platform approved for indoor or outdoor use, and can the ground carry the platform's weight and wheel load?
Ground and wind conditions
What platform overturning accidents have in common is a check not made before set-up. Before starting work, walk the ground and check it:
- Bearing capacity: Backfilled soil, freshly poured concrete, asphalt edges, manhole and drain covers, and slabs over basements can collapse under a wheel or outrigger. On vehicle-mounted platforms, load-spreading pads are placed under the outriggers.
- Slope: The slope limit permitted by the manufacturer is written on the label. If the tilt alarm sounds, the platform is not raised and the alarm is not silenced.
- Openings and edges: Ramp edges, loading docks, floor openings and pits are separated by barriers so that they stay outside the platform's movement area.
- Obstacles: Ceiling beams, services, crane runways and especially power lines are marked in the elevation area.
The legislation gives no single figure for wind; the decision is made according to the platform's label. The label of platforms that can be used outdoors states the maximum wind speed. A platform approved for indoor use only is not used in the open air, however light the wind. Carrying a board with a tarpaulin or a wide metal sheet increases the wind load. We explained how to write stop criteria in our article on cranes and work at height in strong wind.
The load limit is also on the basket's label: the permitted number of people and the total load including people. Tool bags, materials and spare parts are included in this load. Hanging loads outside the basket, letting long sections project beyond the basket or using the platform as a crane changes the overturning moment.
Harness attachment in the basket
On a scissor lift, the collective protection is the guardrail around the basket. The guardrail and entry gate must be sound; whether a harness is used and where it is attached are determined by the manufacturer's instructions and the risk assessment. If the manufacturer has defined an anchor point in the basket, the harness is attached only there. The situation is different with boom platforms: when the boom moves suddenly, for example when a wheel drops into a pothole, the basket whips like a lash and can throw the operator out.
For this reason, the practice on boom platforms is:
- A full body harness is worn. A waist belt is not used. For choosing and checking the harness, see our article on full body safety harnesses.
- Attachment is made to the anchor point the manufacturer has designated in the basket. No attachment is made to the guardrail, a mid-rail or a nearby structure.
- A short, fixed-length lanyard is used. The aim is not to arrest a fall but to prevent the person from leaving the basket.
- No transfer from the basket to a structure. Getting off and on to a roof, beam or machine from the basket is not done unless the platform is designed for this purpose.
- No standing on the guardrail, a bucket or a ladder. If the reach is not enough, a taller platform is needed.
Overturning and entrapment risks
Apart from overturning, the second major risk of platforms is entrapment. While raising the basket or moving it horizontally, the operator can trap their head or body between a ceiling beam and the control panel. A person holding the control lever may not be able to release it when trapped, and the movement continues. Measures:
- Overhead obstacles are checked before raising; when working close to the ceiling, movement is at low speed.
- No one works leaning over the control panel or with their back to the direction of movement.
- Platforms with an entrapment protection device are preferred; the device is not disabled.
- No one goes between the arms of the scissor mechanism or under the base; the area around the platform is closed off with barriers on the ground.
Driving at height increases the risk of overturning. If the platform is to be moved while elevated, it must be a type the manufacturer permits for this and the ground must be level and firm.
Daily check and annual periodic inspection
There are two separate checks, and one does not replace the other.
Pre-use check: Annex III item 1.3 of the Work Equipment Regulation requires work equipment to be checked by its operators before every start of work, and the visual examination and function test to be recorded. If a crack, excessive wear or similar defect is found, the equipment is taken out of use.
| Check point | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Label and manual | Load and wind limits legible, manual on the platform |
| Guardrail and entry gate | No missing, loose or bent parts, gate closes by itself |
| Hydraulic system | No leaks from hoses and connections |
| Tyres and wheels | No damage, wear or loose wheel nuts |
| Controls | Basket and ground controls and dead-man switch working |
| Emergency stop and emergency lowering | Both controls tested in place |
| Tilt alarm and audible warnings | Working, not covered with tape |
| Battery and charging cable | Undamaged, charging area suitable |
Periodic inspection: Under Annex III Table 2, mobile elevating work platforms are inspected at least once a year, unless an interval is specified in the standards, to the criteria of the TS EN 280+A1 standard. The inspection is carried out by authorised persons listed in Annex III item 2.2.2, such as mechanical engineers, mechatronics engineers, mechanical technicians or senior technicians. Load tests are applied with factors at every periodic inspection, and additionally at most every three years or after significant maintenance and repair. The person who maintains the equipment may not carry out the periodic inspection of the same equipment.
The rule does not change for hired platforms: request the current periodic inspection report and the user manual before the platform arrives on site. We explained how to read the report in our article on how to read a periodic inspection report. You can track inspection dates by entering them into our OHS calendar tool.
Who may use it?
Art. 11 of the Work Equipment Regulation requires workers who will use work equipment to be trained, before use, on the risks and ways of avoiding them. Annex II item 2.1 also requires self-propelled equipment to be used by suitably trained workers. In practice this means:
- The person who will use the platform is designated by name and receives practical training on the platform model they will use.
- The training covers the controls, emergency lowering, ground and wind checks, harness attachment and the rescue plan. For the general framework, see our article on work at height training.
- The worker's fitness-for-work report should contain no restriction preventing work at height.
- The person on the ground is also trained in emergency lowering.
At warehouses, factories and construction sites in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, Bursa Sistemer OSGB plans the annual inspection of platforms with authorised persons under our periodic inspection service, and prepares the instructions for use and the risk assessment through our OHS specialist services. For platform use in racking and warehouse work, see also our logistics and warehousing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wearing a safety harness on a scissor lift mandatory?
On a scissor lift the collective protection is the guardrail; harness use is determined by the manufacturer's instructions and the risk assessment, and the harness is attached only to the point defined by the manufacturer. On boom platforms, a full body harness is attached with a short lanyard to the manufacturer's anchor point in the basket.
How often is periodic inspection of a personnel lift carried out?
Under Annex III of the Work Equipment Regulation, at least once a year to the TS EN 280+A1 criteria, unless the standards set a shorter interval. In addition, an operator check is made and recorded before every shift.
At what wind speed is a platform stopped?
The legislation gives no single value; the maximum wind speed written on the platform's label is the basis. A platform approved for indoor use is not used in the open air at all; if materials with a large surface area are carried, a lower limit is written into the instructions.
Who is responsible for a hired platform?
The employer who uses the platform in their own work is responsible for training workers, checking the ground and safe use. Before hiring, request the current periodic inspection report and the user manual in Turkish.
Equipment inventory and an inspection calendar under the new Annex III, with inspections carried out through our solution partners, plus report and defect follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.