Sep. 01, 2025
Construction lifts are a critical piece of equipment on any job site. There are many types of aerial work machines that lift employees to access high, hard-to-reach work areas. Navigating the various kinds of man lifts can be confusing as they share some resemblances but serve distinct purposes.
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So, what is a man lift? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type? And how do you operate one safely? This article aims to demystify the different kinds of man lifts, their distinct features, and provide insight into their uses.
An aerial lift is basically a machine that lifts you up. It's also known as a man lift or an aerial work platform (AWP).
An aerial lift's definition is any powered mobile platform used to elevate personnel to various heights.
The general public definition of aerial lift or man lift includes both scissor lifts and boom lifts, but it's worth noting OSHA does not include scissor lifts in the category. Instead, they consider scissor lifts "mobile scaffolds."
A few different types of lifts fall under the manlift definition. Every aerial lift is a machine that can lift workers, but there are two main categories: scissor lifts, which elevate someone directly above the lift's base crisscrossed metal supports, and boom lifts, which can lift someone up and over (horizontal from the base) with a movable arm called a boom.
There are different types of lifts that fall into each category.
Scissor lifts that run on electricity are ideal for indoor use since they are relatively clean and quiet. They tend to be lighter than diesel scissor lifts. Indoor lifts are more likely to have a pneumatic lifting mechanism than a hydraulic one.
Diesel-powered lifts are sturdy and designed for outdoor use. They can generally handle heavier loads and a larger platform than indoor scissor lifts, but they're also louder and emit fumes.
Some fuel-powered scissor lifts come equipped with heavy-duty tires and other safety features for rugged conditions.
Also called knuckle lifts, articulating boom lifts have multiple joints to help with rotation and extension. Because of these joints articulating booms are good for maneuvering in tight quarters around obstacles.
Unlike knuckle booms, a telescoping boom lift has an arm that telescopes out in a straight line. The arm is typically anchored to a turntable that provides rotation.
Cherry pickers are a type of articulating boom lift that is mounted in the bed of a truck.
According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, aerial lifts are responsible for 2-3% of construction deaths every year. Common causes of death include:
To prevent fatalities and injuries, there are a few precautions you need to take.
Before each use, inspect the construction lift equipment thoroughly.
Look for fluid leaks and loose or missing parts. Check the stability of the guardrails, the break functionality, battery levels, and other key components.
Do not operate the man lift if you find a problem until it's fixed.
Falls are a major source of injury when operating an aerial work platform, so take special care to prevent them. Always latch the door behind you once you've entered the lift platform, hook yourself into a fall arrest system, avoid extending yourself over the guardrails, and keep an eye out for nearby obstructions.
Take measures to alert approaching vehicles or personnel that the man lift is in operation – bumps, jerks, and jostles are common causes of ejection.
Another common source of injury in a man lift is equipment tip-over.
Pay attention to the load capacity limits of the work platform and be careful not to exceed them. If you're working on rough terrain or ground that's not level, make sure you're using an aerial lift that's safe for those working conditions. You should also utilize all available safety features to stabilize the unit.
If high winds are in the forecast, check the manufacturer specs of your equipment, which should have recommendations on safe wind speeds.
When using boom lifts, it's possible to cause a tip-over hazard by overloading the basket or overextending the horizontal or vertical reach of the equipment. Check your operator's manual for this information and be careful to stay within bounds.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of construction lifts. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
OSHA has specific training requirements for anyone who will be operating powered platforms, man lifts, and vehicle-mounted work platforms. They apply to both General Industry and Construction settings.
Generally speaking, such training will cover the following:
Since the hazards and safety precautions vary by the type of aerial work platform, you need training that is specific as well. If you switch from one kind of construction lift equipment to another, you need to complete the training for the new type of lift before you step foot on the machine.
Online training with an OSHA-authorized provider like us can provide an invaluable foundation for the theory and facts of aerial work platform safety. We have courses specific to scissor lifts, knuckle booms, stiff booms, and other types of heavy equipment.
Your lessons are available anytime for your convenience, and you can take the material at your own pace.
Enroll today to get started!
America is home to many expansive cities where close-knit buildings make for narrow alleyways and impressive skylines, but chat with a native Chicagoan on October 11, – the day after the Great Fire – and you might not get a lot of bright-eyed optimism about the future of American industrialism and architecture.
How the fire started is anyone’s guess; what is better understood is the destruction it caused: hundreds of lives were lost, tens-of-thousands were left homeless, and multiple square miles were lain to waste. Though tragic, the fire’s connection to modern building practices – and the need for tools like belt manlifts, super-sized cranes, and construction hoists – may not be obvious. In reality, it’s thanks to the Great Chicago Fire that any of our buildings exceed five floors today.
Rebuilding Chicago brought opportunity for many advancements in industry and design. Fireproof construction took on a higher priority, as did the desire to renew the city’s reputation on the world’s stage – buildings would need to be taller than ever, and more interestingly designed, which led to the invention of the skyscraper.
As construction became more complex, the tools used on the site needed to be more advanced. A number of different construction hoists were developed in order to raise people and materials to ever-higher platforms as the skyscraper was being built. Some of these include:
Each piece of equipment requires expertise and a steady hand to operate it. Let’s explore the type of steps one needs to take, and the mindset they need to have, in order to safely use personnel lifts.
No matter the type of structure you’re building – residential, commercial, or industrial construction – safety is the first priority.
Here are 10 important steps that will help you safely use personnel lifts and give you a finished product that you (and your city) can admire.
Ensure that the site where Team Members and cargo is lifted is a controlled environment. Barricading helps to lock down the area from trespassers, animals, and windblown debris so they don’t enter your work area.
An outdoor construction site can come with a few safety hazards to construction hoists, due to sand- or dirt-like foundations. This type of ground is susceptible to grade issues like sloping or unevenness, so verify ground stability before beginning any lifting.
A spotter on the ground will have an easier time seeing the whole picture of the site, including hazards and positioning errors. Each time hoists, such as cranes or belt manlifts, are used, have a spotter survey from the ground nearby.
Engage the brakes at all times when a Team Member is on a lift. Wheel chocks are also beneficial.
Many crane trucks and other lifting equipment come with outriggers to keep your equipment stable. Outriggers extend outward and make contact with the ground several feet away from the equipment. They add stability to the vehicle as it maneuvers loads high above and from side-to-side.
One of the most important ways to ensure that Team Members will safely use personnel lifts is to adhere to the load limit of the equipment. On one hand, this protects those on or below the construction hoist. On the other hand, it also keeps the machine itself from breaking.
Devices that protect us from falling can save lives, so it’s important to ensure you’re using them — and correctly. OSHA has written a lot on the subject.
Many safety protocols on our part can be overridden if the machinery we’re using breaks down, so be sure to follow the proper maintenance rotation for all your equipment.
Wind, rain, and snow pose a significant threat to construction teams who wish to safely use personnel lifts. And while stability can be compromised by the wind, snow also adds a lot of weight to an already heavy load.
The best type of accident prevention is consistent training. At Savage, this means daily safety stand-ups and ongoing training about particular hazards they may encounter on the site.
History has proven that when we safely use personnel lifts and construction hoists, accounting for any hazards we may come across, we can build incredible things. The Great Chicago Fire showed just how easily things can go from stable to chaotic, but the eventual rebuild proved we can bounce back to even greater heights if we are diligent, driven, and innovative.
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