Scissor Lift - Operation & Inspection Operator Safety Training

Category: Elevating Work Platforms

Class Duration	8 Hours
Format	Classroom Training + Hands-On Practical Training

Course Description

This 8-hour course provides scissor lift operator safety training for California workplaces. It covers applicable Federal OSHA concepts, Cal/OSHA Title 8 requirements, manufacturer requirements, scissor lift hazards, inspections, operating procedures, and battery charging.

Target Audience

• Employees who operate or use scissor lifts.

Course Objectives

• Identify applicable Federal OSHA, Cal/OSHA, and manufacturer requirements.
• Recognize scissor lift types, classifications, and basic operating principles.
• Identify electrical, fall, falling-object, crushing, and tip-over hazards.
• Perform required pre-use inspections and function checks.
• Operate a scissor lift safely within the manufacturer’s limitations and rated capacity.

Course Content

Standards & Definitions

• Federal OSHA scaffold requirements applicable to scissor lifts.
• Cal/OSHA requirements for elevating work platforms.
• Manufacturer operating instructions and equipment limitations.

Scissor Lift Hazards

• Falls and guardrail-related hazards.
• Electrical hazards and required clearance from energized conductors.
• Tip-over and stability hazards, including slopes, holes, drop-offs, unstable surfaces, wind, and rated capacity.
• Crushing, pinch-point, struck-by, falling-object, and unsafe-travel hazards.
• Prohibited practices such as standing on guardrails, using ladders or boxes on the platform, overloading, horseplay, and unauthorized alterations.

Inspections & Procedures

• Pre-shift inspection requirements.
• Functional testing of lower and platform controls.
• Identifying defective components and tagging/removing unsafe equipment from service.
• Repeating the pre-shift inspection after safety-related repairs before returning the lift to operation.

Safe Operation

• Work-area hazard assessment.
• Following the operator’s manual and warning labels.
• Operating within manufacturer limitations and rated capacity.
• Safe platform use and maintaining guardrails in place.
• Retraining situations addressed in the program.

Battery Charging

• Battery charging hazards and precautions.
• Keeping flames and sparks away from batteries and using appropriate protective equipment.
• Charging and disconnect procedures covered in the training program.

Equipment Requirements

• A scissor lift must be provided for the hands-on portion of the training. The equipment must be in good working order, safe to operate, and available for the practical training and evaluation.

Evaluation & Certification

Participants complete the written final examination and a separate practical evaluation as included in the training program.

Key Training Note

Operators must be familiar with the equipment they will be using and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and warning labels.