Rank: Super forum user 
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Hopefully a quick one here,
Im getting my ear chewed about allowing operators to use the our scissor lift without wearing fall restraint equipment.
If the work activity is contained within the protection of guard rail & mid rail then we allow the operators not to wear them, if the activity requires moving beyond the protection zone offered by the scissor lifts guard rails there is a requirement to wear them.
The scissor lift operates on a very flat manufacturing floor, clear of obstructions and movement of other vehicles etc. whilst travelling it is extreamly slow...walking pace and only gets used trained operators.
Is this approach reasonable? or am I missing something?
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Rank: Forum user
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From your description. For MEWPs of a scissor type i.e. vertical lift you would expect that the guard rails and working within the confines of the platform i.e. not exiting or leaning out of the platform area, these measures are sufficient to protect the worker from a fall. If your risk assessment and method of work shows that the risk of a fall is controlled, then you have fulfilled your duty. In MEWPs with a boom which gives horizontal access as well as vertical access, the risk comes from collision with either a structure or the Mewp being hit by another object and the boom arm catapulting the worker from the platform. It is in these circumstances that the wearing of a harness is desired to keep the person in the platform area. There is a leaflet on boom type MEWPs within the following web page www.hse.gov.uk/falls/mewps.htm called Preventing falls from boom-type mobile elevated work platforms. MISC 614 [PDF 72kb
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Rank: Super forum user
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Im reluctant to go down the blanket 'everyone wears them route' as for the most part all work activity is carried out within the protection zone offered by the scissor lift guard rails.
There is one task that requires the operator to rest their body against the guard rail as he is working along side the area that requires attention, although in my opinion the guard rail is doing its job we have the operator wearing the fall restraint equipment.
Thank you for your input :)
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Rank: Forum user
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On an even stable surface, no need, you do have to undertake a specific risk assessment, however on a scissor lift from your description there is no need to wear a harness.
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Rank: Forum user
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It is covered fairly well in here
MEWPS – HSE INFORMATION SHEET MISC614
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Rank: Forum user
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Dear Guru
Kindly note that American and Canadian standards require 100% tied off while working at height above 1.8 metres i.e 6 ft at all times. Anchor points are available on these equipment for falls restraint/protection system.
Vrick
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Rank: Super forum user
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The original post suggests that people may be travelling on the platform?
I advise against anyone travelling in the lift platform whilst it is traversing between work locations. The scissor lift is a machine to provide access to high locations - not a machine for getting from 'A' to 'B'. I would be particularly concerned if the guys are travelling with the scissors extended, since the machine is unlikely to be stable in this configuration, and there may be serious risks of entrapment with overhead obstructions... So the guys should get out of a scissor lift and walk.
If some lateral movement is required, a boom-type MEWP is a better solution.
But I agree with others that no harness should be required in the circumstances described...
Steve
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Rank: Super forum user
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Vrick - whilst ansi and cansi may still be trying to impose prescriptive and often unworkable 'standards' (as our own legilsation did pre-Robens) we (in the UK) have 'moved on' a bit, and our precautions must be appropriate and proportionate to the risk.
In my opinion we have a far better system of controls and safeguards - as witnessed by the (limited) available data comparing H&S performance between the two systems
Steve
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