Aerial Lift Safety

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) are classified by Group (platform location relative to chassis tipping lines) and Type (travel capability relative to platform position).

Group A

The work platform never extends beyond the chassis or tipping lines and moves strictly vertically.

Examples: Scissor Lift, Vertical Personnel Lift.

Group B

The work platform can extend beyond the chassis shadow and tipping lines.

Examples: Articulating or Telescopic Boom Lift.

• Type 1: Can only be driven when the platform is in the stowed position.
• Type 2: Can be driven with the platform elevated, controlled exclusively from controls located on the chassis.
• Type 3: Can be driven with the platform elevated and controlled directly from inside the work platform, such as standard scissor lifts and boom lifts.

Summary of MEWP Groups and Types classification.

Perform and document a daily pre-shift visual and operational inspection using the official lift inspection form.

If damaged or malfunctioning, immediately tag the equipment “DANGER - DO NOT USE” and report it to your supervisor.

Small defects such as pinhole hydraulic leaks or missing cotter pins can cause catastrophic equipment failure.

Figure 1: Equipment collapse caused by unaddressed mechanical failure.

Guardrails alone do not provide sufficient fall protection for Group B lifts. Sudden movements, slope variations, or structural impacts can catapult operators out of the basket.

Tools or debris falling from elevated platforms can cause severe or fatal injuries to personnel below.

• Drop Nets: Catch fallen tools.
  Outdoor Note: Drop nets can act like sails in wind and increase tip-over risk. Verify manufacturer authorization before installation.
  

  Figure 2: Aerial lift safety nets.
• Tool Tethers: Secure tools with lanyards or store them in containment buckets.
• Drop Zone Access Control: Barricade the perimeter below, post danger signs, and use ground spotters.
  
• Toe Boards: Prevent tools from sliding off edges.
  Toe boards are ineffective if the platform is tilted or on an incline.

High winds can cause instability and tip-overs, while ice and snow can obscure ground hazards or reduce traction.

Verify clear travel paths for the chassis, boom, and platform. Use ground spotters in crowded work zones and around pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

Tip-overs may result from overloading, uneven or unstable surfaces, overextension, or sudden movement.

Figure 3: Tip-over risks caused by sudden movement, slope, or overloading.

Operators can suffer serious or fatal crushing injuries if pinned against ceilings, structural beams, pipes, or electrical conduits.

Keep hands, arms, and clothing completely clear of scissor arms, boom joints, and moving mechanical components during operation.

• Group B (Boom Lifts): Full personal fall protection — harness plus an energy-absorbing lanyard or SRL connected to an approved anchor — is required at all times.
• Group A (Scissor Lifts): Personal fall protection is generally not required because the platform stays within the chassis footprint and is enclosed by guardrails.
• Exceptions: Personal fall arrest or restraint systems are required when exiting an elevated lift platform or when exposure exists outside the guardrail enclosure.

Approved Full-Body Harness

Anchor Point Rules

Personal fall protection lanyards must attach exclusively to designated manufacturer-installed anchor points within the platform or basket.

Prohibited Tie-Offs: Never attach fall protection to guardrails, adjacent structures, overhead beams, or pipe racks while operating an aerial lift.

Figure 4: Acceptable manufacturer-designated anchor point on an aerial lift platform.