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Aerial and Scissor Lift

Aerial lifts and scissor lifts let people work safely at height on jobs that would be slow or unsafe from ladders or fixed scaffolds. They are used in construction maintenance warehousing manufacturing events and many other fields.

Aerial lifts and scissor lifts let people work safely at height on jobs that would be slow or unsafe from ladders or fixed scaffolds. They are used in construction maintenance warehousing manufacturing events and many other fields.

This guide explains what aerial lifts are how scissor lifts fit into the wider family of access equipment and which features matter most for safety and productivity.

What aerial lifts are

In everyday warehouse language people often use aerial lift to describe any powered platform that raises workers into the air. In safety standards the term often refers to vehicle mounted platforms with booms or towers while scissor lifts and some vertical mast lifts are grouped as mobile elevating work platforms.

For planning and safe use it is helpful to treat aerial access equipment as one family with several main types.

Each type has its own strengths limits and safety rules.

What scissor lifts are

A scissor lift uses sets of crossed arms that expand and contract in a scissor motion to raise a platform vertically. The platform stays level as it rises and is surrounded by guardrails. Most units have space for one to four people plus tools and materials.

Standard slab scissor lifts are designed for smooth indoor floors in warehouses factories and retail spaces. Rough terrain scissor lifts use larger tyres more ground clearance and often diesel or dual power systems for outdoor sites and unfinished ground. For lower height work, consider a portable mid-rise scissor lift.

Typical scissor lifts in rental fleets offer

Heights and capacities vary widely by brand so always check the exact data sheet for the model on your site.

Main differences between aerial boom lifts and scissor lifts

When people say aerial lift they often mean boom lifts with an extendable arm and a small basket for one or two workers. Compared with scissor lifts these boom type platforms

Scissor lifts on the other hand

For work inside warehouses and factories where tasks are mostly directly above the floor scissor lifts are often the most efficient option. For tasks on building facades roofs or structures behind obstacles boom lifts become essential. When moving materials at ground level, pallet jacks complement aerial equipment well.

Key specifications to understand

Whether you look at a scissor lift or other aerial lift the main specification groups are similar.

Height ratings

Manufacturers usually publish both platform height and working height.

Platform height is the distance from the ground to the platform floor at full elevation.

Working height is a notional figure that adds roughly 2 metres to platform height to reflect a standing worker.

When planning work always check that both working height and platform height cover your task. Allow a safety margin rather than working at the extreme top of the range on every job.

Capacity and occupants

Capacity is usually listed as maximum platform load including people tools and materials. Many compact electric scissor lifts carry around 230 to 320 kilograms and mid size rough terrain models often support 450 kilograms or more. Some high capacity platforms can take over 1 000 kilograms for specialist industrial tasks.

Data sheets normally state both maximum number of occupants and the total rated load. Never exceed either figure. Many brands also list separate limits for the main platform and any deck extension.

Platform size and extensions

Platform dimensions affect how many people can work comfortably and how much material you can stage at height.

Key measurements are

Deck extensions slide out from the platform to give extra reach directly from the lift. They are common on slab scissor lifts used in warehouse maintenance and installation work.

Power source

Common aerial lift power options are

Battery electric scissor lifts dominate indoor work because they avoid exhaust gases and reduce noise. Modern units use maintenance friendly sealed batteries or lithium systems in many ranges.

Drive and outrigger systems

Self propelled scissor lifts can drive while the platform is lowered and in many cases while it is raised within safe limits. They include drive motors in the chassis and steering axles for manoeuvring in aisles.

Some trailer or truck mounted aerial lifts need outriggers for stability. These extend from the base to widen the footprint and must sit firmly on the ground before the platform rises. Load sensing and interlock systems usually prevent unsafe movement when outriggers are not correctly deployed.

Safety rules and training for aerial and scissor lifts

Working at height brings serious fall and crush hazards. Regulations in most countries require training and documented safe systems for aerial lift use.

Operator training and competence

In the United States the Occupational Safety and Health Administration treats most powered access platforms under construction and general industry rules including standard 29 CFR 1926.453 for aerial lifts and related guidance. Operators must be trained and qualified for the specific type of lift they use and employers must retrain workers if they change lift type or are seen using the equipment unsafely.

Many other regions follow similar practice with formal training schemes run by trade bodies or manufacturers. Good training covers

Common use cases in warehouses and logistics

Although many people associate aerial lifts with building sites they also bring real value in warehouses factories and logistics operations.

Typical tasks include

Choosing between aerial and scissor lifts for a job

To choose the right machine review five points.

Height. Decide the working height you need and select a lift with suitable platform height and some margin. Below roughly 12 to 15 metres many projects can use scissor lifts. Taller work or locations set back from the base often need boom lifts.

Reach. If the task is directly above the machine a scissor lift is often ideal. If you need to reach over parked vehicles pipework machinery or landscaping features a boom with horizontal outreach is safer and more efficient.

Load and platform space. For tasks where several people work side by side with tools and materials on the platform scissor lifts usually provide better floor space and capacity. For inspection work where one person needs reach more than floor space a boom lift is often better.

Ground conditions. On smooth concrete floors slim electric scissor lifts or mast lifts are best. On rough outdoor ground choose rough terrain scissor lifts or boom lifts with suitable tyres and ground clearance. Always check the lift rating for slope and wind.

Frequency and access. For frequent small jobs in tight internal spaces a compact mast lift or small scissor lift is easy to reposition. For occasional large jobs across a wide site trailer mounted or truck mounted lifts may be more economical since you can move them quickly between areas.

Working with rental companies

Most businesses use rental fleets for aerial and scissor lifts rather than owning every size and type. When you speak to a rental provider be ready to describe

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