Scissor Lift Safety
Scissor lifts are a huge help for maintenance, construction and repairs, but if your new hires are unfamiliar with the safety issues regarding scissor lifts, there are a few things you will need to stress.
Seasoned workers will know never to travel to the work area with a raised lift. Do your new employees understand why? Your new hires will also need to know the tolerances for raising the lift in wind conditions--how much wind is too much? If you don't know the answer, consult the operators manual or call your customer service rep to find out; it could mean a big difference in the safety margin of your next operation.
If you are operating scissor lifts adjacent to traffic, the lift will need the correct work zone protection, including barriers, warning signs, etc.
Scissor Lift Safety Part Two: Related mishaps are mechanical in nature
The major cause of scissor lift mechanical incidents come from unsafe working conditions or lack of awareness.
Keep fingers out of the scissor leg set and keep feet away when lowering. Anyone working with or near the scissor lift table should use the right safety gear. It's important to double check the procedure manual before using on the scissor lift.
It's vital to insure that your scissor lift is not operated on uneven ground, or in high winds. Many mechanical deaths have resulted from improper installation.
Adjustable Height Means Less Wear And Tear On The Worker
Tilt and lift tables are a big help in terms of good ergonomics. In the 'bad old days' when fixed height tables were installed in work areas to accommodate the 'average worker', everyone else was required to stoop or otherwise adjust themselves to an ill-suited work space.
Among the major workplace injuries are 'repetitive use' injuries, which include needless bending and stooping to accommodate fixed height work spaces. Your purchase of tilt and lift tables will eliminate a large amount of potential for such repetitive use injuries related to the back and spine.
With the advent of tilt and lift tables, your employees can customize their work area to suit their height and other factors. Employee ergonomics is a vital part of worker productivity. The money invested in tilt and lift tables today is the workers compensation claims you won't be paying tomorrow.
The Tilt Table Anchor Chain
Do your employees have guidance on weight issues when it comes to single-person lifting? A tilt table allows the worker to access the contents of boxes and crates with more ease and comfort than simply stooping over to retrieve items from a box on the floor. Even with the assistance of a tilt table, there are some objects that simply should not be moved by a single person.
Another factor to consider is the use of anchor chains. A tipping hazard is present for any unanchored object on the tilt table, even if it is within the weight tolerances for the table. Tilt a heavy crate an inch too far and the unanchored box will tumble onto the floor. This tipping hazard can cost you in both worker productivity and damaged goods--make the anchor chain a required-use item.
Care and Feeding of a Lift Table
Your lift table has an owner's manual your workers should be familiary with. The manual recommends even loading of the lift table; contact the factory before attempting an uneven load.
You should always get factory advice before adding optional equipment such as a conveyor top-there may be specific equipment or installation instructions you will need to follow to keep your warranty intact. When maintaining the lift table it's important to use only the proscribed oil for the machine--do not use jack oils on your lift table.
Any unauthorized modifications to your lift table may void the warranty--check before you make changes! When in doubt always check the manual.