If you look at the OSHA references, it is clear that OSHA does not consider a scissor lift an aerial lift. 29 CFR 1926.453 - Aerial Lifts considers scissor lifts to be one of the following:
- Extensible boom platforms
- Aerial ladder
- Articulating boom platform
- Vertical towers
- A combination of the above.
Scissor lifts do not fit under this classification, so they are not aerial lifts. In 2000, OSHA released a letter of interpretation helpfully titled "Scissor lifts are not aerial lifts - are considered scaffolds."
However, OSHA references an ANSI standard from 1969 for definitions of Aerial Lifts. That standard was updated in 2018 - and it clearly includes scissor lifts as a Group A mobile elevated work platform.
OSHA has not updated their references to match the new ANSI definitions of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms. It seems clear this will eventually happen, as the ANSI regulations are incorporated by reference in the OSHA regulations.
3 comments
Eve Mitchell
Thanks for mentioning that scissor lifts are not considered aerial lifts by OSHA. My husband and I have been dying to repaint the siding on the back of our home, but we don’t really want to hire a professional to do it. I think we could hire a scissor lift and then get all of the work done ourselves. https://www.dukerentals.com/training/
Amy Saunders
Hey there! Yup, we meet again. I mean, your explanation regarding scissor lifts and how they are indeed part of the aerial lift family is still lingering in my head. This time around, it’s my husband’s uncle who needs to do some painting work for the roof rebar of his warehouse next weekend. I’ll make sure he takes note of this matter so the end result will be okay. https://www.allstareq.com/scissor-lift
Amy Saunders
Hello there! My brother-in-law has been assigned to search for additional machineries for his workplace. I found it interesting when you mentioned that scissor lifts are indeed a form of scaffold after all. I’ll forward this article to him so he’ll make the right purchase later. https://www.gphire.com.au/services/SCISSOR-LIFTS-c31214729