Although the benefits of safe work practices apply to all types of equipment, they are especially true for access equipment like mobile elevating work platforms, including boom lifts, scissor lifts, low-level access equipment and vertical mast lifts. These machines are designed to safely complete work at height by lifting people up in the air—even if it’s just a few feet off the ground.

Access equipment manufacturers receive many inquiries each year regarding the use of fall protection equipment for these types of lifts. That’s because construction site tasks performed 6 feet or more off the ground are subject to OSHA’s fall protection regulations.

Most OEMs require equipment owners, users, operators, lessors and lessees to comply with all applicable standards and regulations (including employer, local, state and national) regarding the utilization of MEWPs.

The following is guidance on what fall protection is required when operating different MEWPs:

Fall Protection for Boom Lifts

For fall protection on boom lifts, which include (but are not limited to) articulating, telescopic, crawler and towable models, the ANSI Standard for Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms (A92.5) and the Canadian Standard for Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms (CSA B354.4) require that all personnel in the platform wear fall protection devices at all times.

In support of these standards, in the United States, OSHA’s fall protection rule requires using a full-body harness for fall arrest in place of a body belt when working from an aerial work platform. The full-body harness needs to be attached, via a lanyard, to a lanyard anchorage point.

Most MEWP OEMs manufacture their boom lift models with lanyard anchorage points to comply with these standards and regulations.

Fall Protection for Scissor Lifts and Vertical Mast Lifts

ANSI, CSA and OSHA do not currently require personnel to wear a fall protection device on scissor lifts or vertical mast lifts (machines covered under the ANSI A92.6 and A92.3 standards and CSA B354.2 and B354.1 standards).

Although not required, many MEWP OEMs recommend that a full-body harness be used, with a lanyard attached to an authorized lanyard anchorage point, when operating scissor lifts or vertical mast products that do not have a 30-inch-maximum lanyard length limit. Many MEWP models are similar but not the same. This means operators may have to utilize different fall protection equipment, depending on how the machines are designed. For example, machines with a 30-inch-maximum lanyard length limit have a decal located next to the lanyard anchorage point indicating this maximum length. A fall restraint system must be utilized where fall protection equipment is used on machines with a 30-inch-maximum lanyard length limit.

It is important to note here that some manufacturers do not authorize using fall arrest systems on their equipment.

Prioritizing safety, many MEWP OEMs presently manufacture new scissor and vertical mast lifts with lanyard anchorage points as standard equipment. In some instances, on certain older models that were not originally equipped with lanyard anchorage points, an authorized equipment distributor can install lanyard anchorage points, per the OEM’s specifications, for the respective product, and these are then considered a means of fall arrest for a fall protection system. If an older MEWP model cannot be updated to be equipped with authorized lanyard anchorage points, the user may attach to the mid-rail section of the main platform rail.

Lanyard Anchorage Points

Each authorized lanyard anchorage point is designed for one person only. There must be an authorized lanyard anchorage point for each additional person(s) on the platform.

Transferring to a Structure from the MEWP While Elevated

Because MEWPs are designed to lift operators, tools, supplies and materials to access overhead job sites or work at height, in the course of this type of work, it is sometimes necessary for MEWP operators to transfer from the equipment platform to an adjacent structure, in order to complete a specific task, while the machine is elevated.

While there is no specific transfer regulation, OSHA has provided guidelines to OEMs for transferring to a structure from a MEWP platform while elevated: “When transfer is necessary—100 percent tie-off is required in this situation, utilizing two lanyards. One lanyard must be attached to the platform with the second lanyard attached to the structure. The lanyard connected to the platform must not be disconnected until such time as the transfer to the structure is safe and complete.”

Job Site Safety is Top Priority

Before operating any make or model of MEWP, equipment owners and users should always read and understand the machine’s Operation and Safety manual. This manual will outline the necessary precautions that operators need to follow for proper and safe machine usage, including the appropriate safety, training, application, inspection and operation of the MEWP.

A copy of the machine’s Operation and Safety Manual, AEM Safety Manual (ANSI markets only) and ANSI Manual of Responsibilities (ANSI-market MEWPs only) should be enclosed in the weather-resistant storage container of the MEWP. If these manuals are not in the MEWP, please contact the MEWP’s original equipment manufacturer for a copy of the machine’s Operation and Safety Manual and the American National Standards Institute for a copy of the Safety Manual and Manual of Responsibilities.