Scissor Lift Operations — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for operating electric and diesel scissor lifts for overhead installation and maintenance work, covering ground assessment, pre-start checks, elevated driving, crush prevention and emergency lowering.
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Using a scissor lift on a construction site is usually high-risk construction work (HRCW) because the operator is working where they could fall more than 2 metres, and because the lift is powered mobile plant moving among other workers. A SWMS is required before the work starts. Scissor lifts are a big improvement on ladders, but most serious incidents involve the platform tipping over at a slab edge, pit or soft ground, or the operator being crushed between the guardrail and an overhead beam, duct or slab soffit.
Unlike boom-type EWPs with a boom length of 11 metres or more, scissor lifts do not need a high-risk work licence. The PCBU still has to make sure every operator is trained and competent on the type of scissor lift being used. Industry training (such as the EWPA Yellow Card) is widely expected on commercial sites, and each operator should be familiarised with the specific make and model, including the emergency lowering system. Check your state or territory regulator for local requirements.
The SWMS must deal with ground conditions and drop-offs (slab edges, penetrations, stair voids, service pits and soft or freshly backfilled ground), the platform's wind rating (many electric units are rated for indoor use only), overhead crush hazards when raising or driving elevated, and traffic management with other plant and pedestrians. Lifts should be maintained and inspected in line with the manufacturer's manual and AS 2550.10, with a current periodic inspection record kept with the machine. Use a harness only where the manufacturer requires it. Most scissor lifts are designed with the guardrail as the fall protection, and many do not have rated anchor points.
Someone on the ground who knows how to use the ground controls and emergency lowering must be available whenever a person is elevated.
Customise this template with the scissor lift make, model and platform height, its indoor or outdoor wind rating and maximum slope, the work area and any drop-offs or penetrations, the overhead structures and services, the travel routes and exclusion zones, the names of trained operators and the ground rescue person, and the battery charging location if it is an electric unit.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- •Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
Risk Assessment
1.Work area and ground assessment
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scissor lift tipping into a slab edge, penetration, pit or soft ground | Catastrophic | Walk the work area and travel route before use. Barricade or cover slab edges, stair voids, penetrations and service pits with fixed, marked covers rated for the lift's wheel loads. Confirm the slab or ground can carry the lift's point loads, and check any suspended slab with the builder. Do not operate on slopes beyond the manufacturer's rating. Keep a 1 m buffer from unprotected drop-offs when elevated. | Low | Supervisor / Operator |
| Using an indoor-rated lift outdoors or in windy conditions | High | Check the manufacturer's data plate for the wind rating. Do not use indoor-only units outdoors or in open-sided structures exposed to wind. For outdoor-rated units, monitor wind and stop work at the rated limit. Large sheets or panels on the platform increase wind load, so allow for them. | Low | Operator / Supervisor |
2.Pre-start inspection and function test
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating a scissor lift with faulty controls, tilt alarm or emergency lowering | High | Complete a documented pre-start check each shift covering tyres, hydraulics, guardrails and gate, platform controls, ground controls, tilt alarm, pothole protection, emergency stop and emergency lowering. Confirm the periodic inspection is current. Tag out and report any defect, and do not use the machine until it is repaired. | Low | Operator |
3.Travelling to the work location
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striking workers or other plant while driving | High | Drive in the stowed position where possible, at walking pace, and face the direction of travel. Use a spotter in congested areas, through doorways and near pedestrians. Keep to the agreed travel routes and observe exclusion zones around other plant. Sound the horn at blind corners. | Low | Operator / Spotter |
| Overturning when driving elevated | High | Only drive elevated on firm, level surfaces within the manufacturer's limits. Lower the platform before travelling over ramps, joints, cable covers or uneven ground. Never disable the tilt alarm or pothole protection. | Low | Operator |
4.Raising the platform and working at height
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator crushed between the guardrail and an overhead structure | Catastrophic | Identify overhead beams, ducts, cable trays, sprinkler pipes and soffits before raising. Raise slowly as you approach the work, and look up the whole time. Use a lift fitted with secondary guarding or an anti-entrapment device where overhead crush hazards exist. Never lean over the control box while raising or driving. A ground person must watch when working close to overhead structures. | Moderate | Operator / Ground Person |
| Falling from the platform by climbing or standing on the guardrails | Catastrophic | Keep both feet on the platform floor. Never stand on the mid rail, top rail or on boxes or ladders on the platform. Keep the entry gate closed. If you cannot reach the work, lower the platform, reposition and raise it again. | Low | Operator |
| Overloading the platform or extension deck | High | Keep the combined weight of people, tools and materials within the rated load shown on the platform, and within the separate rating for the extension deck. Do not hang loads off the guardrails. Spread materials evenly across the platform. | Low | Operator |
5.Emergency and rescue procedures
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator stranded or incapacitated at height | High | A trained ground person who knows the ground controls and manual emergency lowering valve for this model must be on site whenever someone is elevated. Practise emergency lowering during familiarisation. Keep a phone or radio on the platform. | Low | Supervisor / Ground Person |
6.Parking, charging and refuelling
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen build-up or electrical faults during battery charging | Moderate | Charge electric units only in a ventilated, designated area away from ignition sources, using the manufacturer's charger. Check the charging lead and plug for damage. Refuel diesel units outdoors with the engine off. Park fully lowered on level ground, with the key removed and out of traffic routes. | Low | Operator |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.