Essential Considerations When Renting a Scissor Lift
Safety and efficiency should be at the back of every contractor's mind when bidding for projects requiring workers to work at various heights. While telescopic ladders are a cheap option, they expose workers to accidents. Scissor lifts are a safer alternative since you can quickly adjust the height, and they provide a secure platform for workers to stand on. However, scissor lifts don't come cheap, and renting is considered more cost-effective in some cases. Nonetheless, you must consider certain factors when using a scissor lift hire.
Visual Aids at a Rental Site
When renting a scissor lift, it is advisable to test it at a rental firm's yard. It gives an operator a good picture of what to expect from the equipment. The test should include raising the lift to full height and lowering it to ground level. Thus, a rental company must make its yard safe for testing scissor lifts. Visual aids are effective controls for protecting operators from hazards, such as electrocution by overhead power cables. If a rental company does not have visual safety aids around its yard, do not eyeball the distance between power lines and a scissor lift's platform. The best strategy is to find an industrial rental firm that prioritises client safety by offering visual safety aids.
Length of Fall Protection Lanyard
The size of the platform on a scissor lift determines the machine's productivity. Scissor lift models with a big operator platform allow workers to do more work faster and carry more material; hence, their high demand. That said, you should be careful when inspecting rental scissor lifts because some models have a modified/elongated operator platform. Unfortunately, the fall protection lanyard length remains the same even after modifying and expanding the operator platform. Thus, it poses a grave danger because an operator must forgo using the fall protection lanyard to utilise the platform's entire length. It means that you must always measure the length of the fall protection system vis-à-vis the size of the operator platform. Besides, only hire a scissor lift whose safety lanyard allows unrestricted access to all areas of the modified platform.
Operator Experience
Scissor lifts come in various models; hence, it is hard to find an operator who understands how to operate all types. Most are proficient in a few models, which is a crucial consideration when hiring a scissor lift. Otherwise, you risk hiring a machine that company operators are not familiar with, increasing the risk of injuries in the workplace. Therefore, try to fight the urge to rent newer scissor lift models to try the latest features. Most importantly, hire a scissor lift that an operator can handle or quickly learn to do so.
Safety and efficiency should be at the back of every contractor's mind when bidding for projects requiring workers to work at various heights. While telescopic ladders are a cheap option, they expose workers to accidents. Scissor lifts are a safer alternative since you can quickly adjust the height, and they provide a secure platform for workers to stand on. However, scissor lifts don't come cheap, and renting is considered more cost-effective in some cases. Nonetheless, you must consider certain factors when renting a scissor lift, as highlighted in this post.