Is fall protection required when using a boom or scissor lift?
Boom lifts and scissor lifts are different in background scope and use. Boom lifts (aerial lifts for people elevation) that are truck mounted require the use of attached equipment to restrain from bucket ejection in the case of street or highway collision. If the free fall exceeds 2 ft then a harness must be used (1926.453 and 1926.500 series). Scissor lifts typically have a general industry application and also construction use with large wheels. No fall protection is required by OSHA because if the work is central to the relatively large platform, no body parts extend over the railings*. The industry standard is ANSI A92.6. *Although railings are sometimes lowered for access through doors, the railings must be re-erected for further travel if a person is on the work platform. Railings can have chicken wire or expanded metal installed to reasonably prevent use of the midrail for a stepping point. Sometimes, when authorized users have left the platform such as on a commercial roof base
