Rank: Forum user 
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Morning All, can I ask what most people do for use of scissor lifts and using a harness. I am getting different messages from some training providers that we must insists that anyone using a scissor lift must wear a harness. Others saying no requirement to do so, others saying it depends what the risk assessment says?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bill6152 wrote:Morning All, can I ask what most people do for use of scissor lifts and using a harness. I am getting different messages from some training providers that we must insists that anyone using a scissor lift must wear a harness. Others saying no requirement to do so, others saying it depends what the risk assessment says?
Is there a suitable anchor point inside the scissor lift to attach to? Generally, there isn't.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Bill
For scissor lifts I don't usually insist on the wearing of a safety harness unless there is an activity after risk assessment that would require the use of one. I know some company's say that they insist on operators wearing one to restrict them from climbing/stepping on handrails to gain extra height, however active monitoring and proactive safety culture should ensure this practice doesn't occur. If the operative can't get to the correct height using the scissor lift, I would also suggest that it is not the correct equipment for the task.
The HSE state that safe working on scissor lifts would negate the need for a safety harness, as they only manoeuvre up and down. However a cherry pickers or boom type MEWP's move in all directions and can become a 'catapult' if they come into contact with obstacles etc.
So as a general rule I would only say that they are needed for cherry pickers and boom type MEWP's.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bill
This one is subjective issue and i would say follow best practices if you can..if you are 100% sure there is no job beyond the handrails which need to climb up.. no need to insist
SHV
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I recall reading some HSE guidance that said somethig to the effect that a harness is not normally required in a scissor lift. It is designed to carry people and unlike the a MEWP with a boom a scissor lift cannot articulate and throw people out of the basket. There may be exceptions of course e.g. if the ground was not stable or flat.
I had a jobsworth once tell me that people should be clipped on in a scissor lift on my project. Apparently they had gone of a course for working with MEWPs. Ahh, I love an 'expert'. So I said "tell me when is the only time you would not expect to wear a harness when using a cherry picker or simialr type of MEWP"? They could not give me the answer. "When working over water my friend - goodbye."
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ray
This guy may not be a "Jobsworth" as you describe him/her. There are two trains of thought on harness wearing in Scissor Lifts.
Some sites insist on harness wearing whilst in the air (from fully retracted position) whilst others insist on harness wearing only when lift is in travel (wheeled) mode.
We have some the largest ever made lifts on our site (Cat. A) where the latter is adopted. As is always - Read the Manufacturer's Manual.
Jon
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Rank: Super forum user
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This has come up many times and I still cannot think of a proper reason to use a harness on scissor lifts. If the ground is unstable - why on earth are you traversing it? If they scissor cannot be at a suitable height for work why are you using it?
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 1 user thanked boblewis for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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John M wrote:Ray
This guy may not be a "Jobsworth" as you describe him/her. There are two trains of thought on harness wearing in Scissor Lifts.
Some sites insist on harness wearing whilst in the air (from fully retracted position) whilst others insist on harness wearing only when lift is in travel (wheeled) mode.
We have some the largest ever made lifts on our site (Cat. A) where the latter is adopted. As is always - Read the Manufacturer's Manual.
Jon
Indeed Jon, I fully appreciate there are exceptions - there always is. As you say you need to check out the kit, manufacturer's instructions and of course, that wonderful RA everyone keeps harping on about; but is usually generic and not worth the paper it's written on.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I can't recall ever insisting on contractors wearing harnesses on a scissor lift but, in the risk assessment considerations, we always consider the risk of traffic collision, usually such an incident is unlikely as we would aim to maintain a barriered ~2 metre exclusion zone around the base. But some warehouse situations ......
Another consideration is harnesses can be worn to allow the contractors to lean out/over to reach (but still keeping both feet on the platform) to reduce number of times moving the unit (which requires up-and-down before moving).
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Rank: Super forum user
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.... meant to say, if there is a risk of traffic collision, e.g. from an FLT or a car in say a car park, we would ask contractor to wear harness
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Rank: New forum user
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While this is a much covered debate, I personally find it quite a dangerous practice to wear a harness in a scissor lift, especially just to tick a company safety box, and for various other reasons, two of which are the chance of it getting caught on objects whilst working or travelling, and mainly the likelihood that should the machine tip over, the occupent will not be thrown clear and is more likely to be "pendulummed" underneath the falling machine and subsiquently crushed to death....I once witnessed such an incident!
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1 user thanked Rob Harnett for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rob - unsure why you would have unearthed this thread 6 years later. However, guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, IPAF and others does not usually include a recommendation for the use of harnesses in scissor lifts. That said I am far from convinced by your logic. What you are effectively saying is that it would be OK for someone to be thrown down in the event of a scissor lift overturning. I think just as likely to be killed or maimed when hitting something in the way or when hitting the ground as from the scenario you present. The guidance on this subject is generally founded on the principle that you should not be relying on PPE to protect against a vertical "MEWP" such as a scissor lift overturning. With PPE the outcome is likely to be severe. Without PPE ditto.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Hello , I'm curious as to what the HSE's strength requirements are for permanent fall arrest and/or fall restraint anchors? Across the pond here, permanent fall arrest anchors must withstand a 5,000 lb. (2,267.962 kg's -approximately..) load in any direction, and fall restrain anchors 800 lbs (362.874 kg's) in any direction. I would think that is a near impossibility to achieve (at least for fall arrest) in a scissor lift. If the idea is to prevent the worker from actually free falling, as has been stated, they shouldn't be standing on anything but the deck anyway...if the manufacturer's guardrails are in place along wiht the chain or moveable bar used at the end of the scissor lift guardrail section to accomodate access, then we don't require anything more. If a worker was to wear a full body harness and connected lanyard and actually end up free-falling over the side of the platform (what the heck were they doing prior to that occurring?), then I would think that depending on the platform's height, they could bring the whole lift over with them on their way to the ground...
The most common misuse I've come across is workers (um.. ironworkers, to be specific), placing scaffold planks on the midrails so they can access flat trusses to do welding, as they can't raise the platform high enough to reach. None of them do that to elevate (excuse the pun) their risk of falling- but to get the job done. If the work platform was set up on the street and vehincal impacts were a concern, I think there are much better risk control options available that having them wear a fall arrest harness...
Just an opinion from across the pond...
Argyll
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Argyll - the relevant EU standards are similar though measured in kN etc. [We wait to see if some dinosaurs push for imperial units post Brexit!] The guard-rail on a typical scissor lift even when new might well fail the tests, as it should be designed to withstand roughly two thirds of a person's body weight falling against it, with the force not being multiplied by the scenario where a person would be thrown against it when a MEWP collapses. But HSE and IPAF do not recommend reliance on harnesses when using vertical MEWPs.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Do not fall into the trap that some do, I have seen time and time again operators wearing harnesses in scissor lifts because it is company policy, then they forget to ask a hire company to supply a scissor lift with anchor points. So what do operators then do? Yes they clip on to handrails "because its company policy" and they dont want to get told off, pointless excercise and 1 which could offer a false sence of security leading to operator taking risks like over-reaching or they even become a distraction.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi, I have always viewed scissor lifts as being the same as a scaffold tower, be it just an automated one (Scissor lifts should not be moved at height) and we would never expect anyone to wear a harness and lanyard whilst working from a scaffold tower.
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Rank: Super forum user
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1 of my clients has requested a harness for their operator using a lift. I'm not sure what the official name is. It doesn't have forks like a forklift and it isn't completely enclosed like a scissorlift. This is where pictures would be great.
It has loadbed that protrudes forward and this protusion is about 3m long. It is dipped in the middle along it's length. It is designed to move tyres up onto or down from tyre storage racking. The machinery is never moved in the raised position so no requirement for a harness but the operator does have to lean into the tyre racking and roll the tyres onto the platform. We're only lookiking at light commercial tyres, all the heavy commercial and agri tyres are stored at gound level.
I'm not convinced a harness and lanyard would be suitable but the client is. But they can't say why they think it's needed, just, "he's at height so must wear a harness. I'll look to see if there is an official anchor point as a starter
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Rank: Forum user
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This question has exercised me for a long while as we had multiple clients who insisted on harnesses and lanyards in all MEWP's, irrespective of the Risk Assessment findings for the task.
No argument would sway them and the most logical answer I could get was that the client felt it was easier for their people to challenge anyone not wearing a harness and lanyard than it was to educate them why they might not be required in a scissor lift but always in a genie boom (except over water as someone has already pointed out The lack of anchor points (at that time) didn't concern most of them and one even specified different fixed length lanyards of 1m in a genie boom and 2m in a scissor lift. Like most people, when we use a scissor lift, I risk assess and plan properly then decide whether harnesses and lanyards are required before specifying them. If I then have to have a discussion with the clients SHEQ Team it's an informed one.
At least most modern scissor lifts do now have anchor points on the floor of the cradle if they are needed !
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Mark As you say pictures would be great. To be honest, from your narrative I am not sure whether the worker is standing on the tyre racking or on the "lift". May be if you clarify that and could give a more explicit name for the machine in question, somebody here might have some clever idea!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rank: Super forum user
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