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HSE Regulations for the use of scissor lifts
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Posted By JonathanJ
Hi,
I work for a company which needs occasional access to high shelving. We have a non-integrated work platform (we call it "the cage") and a scissor lift which hasn't really been used for months, since the last remaining trained member of staff departed the company.
I spoke to the HSE and they advised me that there are no hard and fast rules or regulations for working at height (it will actually only be picking but I understand that this is covered by the working at height regulations) and we should take a risk assessment to decide the safest way to access the high shelving.
However, having spoken to the health and safety office of the company who last serviced the scissor lift, and having read some information which he provided me with (namely Guidance Note PM28), I now understand that we cannot use the cage to pick from.
With this in mind we are now progressing with servicing the scissor lift and training a number of staff to use it, at no small cost to the company. Before we progress with this though, we would like to confirm that we can indeed use the scissor lift for picking, ensure we've satisfied all appropriate examinations of the scissor lift and have in place all necessary safety equipment, i.e harnesses, etc.
Can anyone give me any advice regarding scissor lifts? Is there any specific legislation in reference to it? I understand there is for mobile elevated working platforms but it seems to be referring to cherry pickers rather than scissor lifts.
Also, we have not taken a risk assessment which we now understand is essential. Could anyone provide me with some advice on how to carry out one or point me in the direction of websites or guidelines or examples which may help.
Any advice would be very greatly received.
Jonathan
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Posted By Sharon Stephenson Hi Johnathan, I recently spoke with a H&S company who deal specifically in lifts and they might be able to help. The web-site is www.liftsafety.co.uk. Hope this helps Regards, Sharon
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Posted By ITK
"I spoke to the HSE and they advised me that there are no hard and fast rules or regulations for working at height"
Are you SURE you spoke to the HSE...???
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Posted By JonathanJ
I know, I was surprised but perhaps I just spoke to someone who wasn't especially well read on the subject which my request concerned.
She was incredibly vague to be frank. She basically expressed to me that we had to make the risk assessment ourselves and from this make a judgement on what we are meant to do.
I was shocked when I spoke to the health and safety officer at the scissor lift service company and even more so when I read some of the information he sent me because it was unequivocal in its demands of the employer.
I am finding it very difficult to find more detailed guidelines regarding specifically scissor lifts or even if such literature exists.
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Posted By Les Fullwood
Jonathan,
Is there any way of bringing the load to ground level, thus removing the need? Could the items be stored on a pallet, brought to ground level and then picked?
I have had this problem too, the advice given is always woolly to say the least.
Best Regards
Les
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Posted By JonathanJ
Hi Les,
No, there isn't any way to bring the goods to ground level. They are all already loaded on pallets and on the wide aisles we use a reach truck to lower the goods. However, due to space restrictions some of our aisles are quite narrow and there isn't enough room to turn the forklift, therefore the only two options are the scissor lift or the cage attachment, which is what we've been doing for the last 6 months but have now discovered contravenes Health and Safety Guidelines.
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Posted By JonathanJ
Hi again,
I'm still looking for any information on HSE advice on the use of scissor lifts in the work place.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
J
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Posted By Bill Parkinson
Jonathan you didn't contact the HSE infoline for this advice did you? The regulations specify what is requried in terms of risk assessment etc. but not type of equipment. Have you seen the HSE presentation on working at height regs? It gives some examples of different types of equipment etc. I actually presented this on behalf of an HSE Inspector who arrived late for the presentation!
Anyway, the term MEWP does also include scissor lifts. Probably the most common MEWP used is a cherry picker type so maybe some perception aspect there. With regards to your risk assessment and control measures they seem OK to me, do they fit in with the training delivered and are the trainers accredited via RTITB/CITB etc. so you are get appropriate training?
Also have you spoke to a specialist lifting company as there are a wide variety of lift trucks available and I have seen in action some lift trucks used in narrow aisles where the forks are side on so the truck does not have to turn in the aisle. May be worthwhile in the long run.
Bill
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