Aerial Lift and Scissor Lift Safety: Operator Course

Boom lifts, scissor lifts and other mobile elevating work platforms: the rules, pre-use inspections, stability and capacity, fall protection, entrapment and crushing, electrical hazards, safe driving and positioning, rescue and transport.

Aerial lifts and scissor lifts let workers reach heights quickly, and they are also involved in dozens of deaths every year from falls, tipovers, electrocutions and being crushed against overhead objects. This in-depth course covers the OSHA rules for aerial lifts (29 CFR 1926.453 and 1910.67) and scissor lifts, the ANSI/SAIA A92 standards for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), types and groups of machines, the walk-around inspection and function test, stability, load capacity, slopes and wind, fall protection and PPE for boom lifts and scissor lifts, entrapment and crush hazards, power lines, driving and positioning, ground controls and rescue, transporting and loading machines, charging and fueling, and how employers must train and familiarize operators. It is an awareness-level course. The employer must also provide hands-on training and familiarization on the actual machine, and operators must follow the manufacturer's operating manual. This course does not issue an OSHA or ANSI certification.

What you’ll learn

  • Identify the types of lifts and explain the OSHA and ANSI rules and training requirements
  • Perform a pre-start inspection, walk-around and function test and decide when to tag a lift out
  • Understand stability, capacity, slopes and wind limits
  • Use fall protection and PPE correctly on boom lifts and scissor lifts
  • Prevent entrapment, crushing, electrocution and traffic hazards
  • Drive, position and operate lifts safely and use ground controls and rescue procedures
  • Transport, load, charge, fuel and store lifts safely

Who it’s for

Aerial lift, boom lift and scissor lift operators, electricians, painters, HVAC, sprinkler, sign and drywall crews, warehouse and facility maintenance workers, ground crew and spotters, supervisors, rental yard staff and safety coordinators. No experience is needed.

Course outline

Module 1: Lifts, Rules and Training 3 lessons · quiz

Why lifts are dangerous, the types of mobile elevating work platforms, the OSHA and ANSI rules, and what operator training must include.

  • Why lift safety matters 12 min Free preview
  • Types of aerial lifts and MEWPs 14 min
  • OSHA and ANSI rules, and training 15 min
Module 2: Inspection and Function Tests 3 lessons · quiz

The pre-start inspection, walk-around, function tests, markings and manuals, and when to tag a lift out of service.

  • The pre-start inspection 15 min Free preview
  • Function tests and tagging out 14 min
  • Markings, capacity plates and manuals 12 min
Module 3: Stability, Slopes, Wind and Ground Conditions 3 lessons · quiz

Why lifts tip, how ground, slopes and wind affect stability, floor loading, and the rules of setup.

  • How lifts tip over 14 min Free preview
  • Slopes, ground and floors 14 min
  • Wind, weather and lightning 12 min
Module 4: Fall Protection, PPE and Entrapment 3 lessons · quiz

When harnesses are required, anchor points, ejection and whiplash, entrapment and crush hazards, and PPE.

  • Fall protection on lifts 15 min Free preview
  • Entrapment and crush hazards 15 min
  • PPE and personal practices 12 min
Module 5: Electrical Hazards, Work Zones and Traffic 3 lessons · quiz

Staying clear of power lines, barricading the work area, ground crew, pedestrians, vehicles and other overhead hazards.

  • Power lines and electrical contact 15 min Free preview
  • The work zone and ground crew 14 min
  • Overhead objects, hot work and other hazards 12 min
Module 6: Operating, Emergencies and Rescue 3 lessons · quiz

Starting, driving and positioning a lift, working at height, ground controls, emergency lowering and rescue planning.

  • Driving and positioning 15 min Free preview
  • Working at height 14 min
  • Emergencies and rescue 15 min
Module 7: Transport, Charging, Storage and Case Studies 3 lessons · quiz

Loading and securing lifts for transport, charging batteries and fueling, storage and maintenance, and lessons from typical accidents.

  • Transporting and loading 14 min Free preview
  • Charging, fueling and storage 14 min
  • Case studies and a checklist 14 min

What’s included

  • 21 lessons you can read at your own pace, on a phone or a computer
  • A short quiz after every module, with the correct answer shown for any you miss
  • A final exam of 25 questions (pass at 80% or higher)
  • A numbered certificate of completion with a QR code anyone can scan to verify it
  • Your progress saved to your account, with access that doesn’t expire

Please read: this is a self-paced online learning course. It is not an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card, a license, or a government certification, and it does not by itself meet any training requirement in OSHA or state standards. Employers must still provide required, site-specific training and decide who is a competent or qualified person. See the full disclaimer.

Questions

Can an employer check my certificate? Yes. Each certificate has a number and a QR code that opens a public verification page on this site.

Can I get a refund? Yes, within 7 days of purchase if you have completed less than 25% of the course and haven’t earned its certificate. Email support@toddallynmedia.com. Details are in section 13 of the Terms of Use. Payment is handled by PayPal; we never see your card details.

What do I need? A free account and any phone, tablet or computer. Questions or problems? Email support@toddallynmedia.com.

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