A safety alert has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to warn service and maintenance engineers and those in the construction industry who use, or lease out, JLG 500RTS and 400 RTS scissor lifts, to ensure that safety critical components are working correctly.
In all three fatal overturn incidents in Europe over the past four years:
- the oscillating axle which allows the machine to be driven on uneven ground with the platform in the transport position failed to lock when the platform was raised
- the lift/drive interlock system did not work allowing the platform to be elevated above 6.7m without the stabilisers being deployed.
HSE Inspector Richard Clarke said: "Though this safety alert is primarily to warn those who own and use these specific models of scissor lift, and those with similar interlock systems, it should serve as a reminder to all users of mobile elevating work platforms that there is a need to regularly maintain, inspect and test the equipment. This isn't just recommended by manufacturers but is also required by law.
"Used as directed and with all the necessary checks, we continue to recommend the appropriate use of mobile elevating work platforms as a tool to enable work at height to be carried out safely."
(CD)