About Me

Conveying Good Will: Conveyor Safety Tips for Industrial Workers

Hi, my name is Brooke, and I used to run the HR department in a factory. I filed a lot of injury reports and helped a tragic number of people make claims for workers' compensation or WorkCover. In many cases, the accidents involved convener belts. By seeing what not to do, I really learned what should be done in terms of conveyor safety. I love writing and wanted to convey some good will to the world through a blog – I also love puns. In this space, I plan to post on conveyor belt safety as well as other posts related to a range of industrial equipment. I hope these posts help to protect you and your workers.

Conveying Good Will: Conveyor Safety Tips for Industrial Workers

Scissor Lift Hiring Tips

by Ceyda Graumans

Scissor lifts are probably the most flexible, easy to use and convenient aerial lifts. Hiring the equipment can be pretty challenging if you are not a contractor or builder with long-term working relationships with rental companies. Nevertheless, this should not be your case after reading this guide. 

Decide The Required Scissor Lift Features

There are different kinds and models of scissor lifts, each with unique capabilities. Therefore, examine your needs to determine the scissor lift that works best at the site. Some concerns should include: 

  • What weights do you intend to lift? Besides yourself, will you lift heavy equipment such as bricks, timber or construction equipment?
  • Are you concerned about the size of the platform? A large platform will accommodate more than one person and will prevent you from moving the lift every few minutes when conducting works that need you to cover large areas.
  • How high will you work? The lift should be a bit higher than the maximum working height. It prevents you from inventing dangerous techniques such as stepping on boxes or blocks when working at the maxim height.
  • Given that you may not have used a scissor lift in the past, the equipment should have a straightforward operation mechanism, easy-to-use controls and essential safety features. 

Decide On The Power Source

Scissor lifts can be electric, hydraulic, petrol or diesel-powered. Assess your site to determine the equipment that works best for you. For example, an electric scissor lift would be ideal if the site has an active power source. Check the length of the cable and the size of the battery. When hiring a petrol or diesel-powered scissor lift, you might be concerned about their fuel consumption, noise and emission levels. When hiring a hydraulic lift, you might be worried about its efficiency. For example, an oil leak will significantly reduce the lift's weight limits. 

Consider Companies That Customise The Rental Contract

Once you find a suitable lift, ask the company for their rental contract. More often than not, the agreement could contain clauses that you might not be comfortable with. Negotiate with the company to ensure these terms are in your favour. For example, you could ask the company to organise hired-in insurance to protect you from liabilities. Besides, you could inquire if the company will offer transport and maintenance services at your site. Finally, bargain the hiring costs by pitting the company against its competition. 

When it comes to a scissor lift hire, decide the required features, determine an appropriate power source and negotiate the rental contract. 

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