What you should know about a scissor lift

A scissor lift is in the category of a man lift or what is now referred to as a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP). Scissor lifts are quite common in the facility maintenance applications and construction. You can use a scissor lift to elevate tools and workers to certain working heights. You can hire these self-propelled from reputable hiring companies, such as Lakeside Hire. But before you decide to hire a scissor lift, there are some things worth knowing. This article discusses what you should know about a scissor lift.

Types of scissor lifts

Most scissor lifts are in two usage categories, which are rough slabs or terrain. If the surface the scissor lift wants to operate is soft or uneven, then you need to get a rough terrain scissor lift. Remember that some rough terrain scissor lifts have leveling outriggers that compensate for uneven terrain. They are designed to stabilize the lift so that it can reach the required working height. A rough terrain scissor lift can have rough terrain treaded tires to enhance traction on a wide range of materials or it may have flotation tires for work on grass or sand.

On the other hand, a slab scissor lift often has solid tires and is suitable for solid or level work surfaces. You can find some lift tires that leave marks on a finished floor while others don’t. Therefore, if there is no marking requirement, then you should use non-marking tires or even those that have tire socks to reduce or remove the potential floor damage.

Choosing the right scissor lift

Determining which scissor lift is suitable for the work at hand is crucial to maximizing worker efficiency and the budget. Therefore, you need to know the conditions of the surface and whether or not there is a non-marking requirement.

When you know the conditions of the surface the scissor lift needs to work on, you need to determine the right mode of power for the equipment. Each scissor lift category tends to have different types of power sources. You can find some models that use internal combustion engines, such as diesel or dual fuel. This can affect air quality on the job site. Some scissor lifts use DC while others can be physically handled.

You should still narrow your focus by looking at the working height. All scissor lifts come with a platform that you can stand on. You can find some scissor lifts that have a nomenclature that may include the platform height. A scissor lift offers a lot of mobility and workspace for different applications.

In conclusion, it’s important to understand the types of scissor lifts before you decide to hire them. Keep in mind that a scissor lift can offer various benefits, especially if you want to work at height. It also makes sense to determine the mode of power that you want in your scissor lift. For example, if you intend to use it indoors, then you choose an electric scissor lift while internal combustion engines may be ideal for outdoors.