What Can a Scissor Lift Help You to Achieve?

Scissor Lift's and their variety of uses.

We are all aware that working at heights requires a unique combination of experience and awareness. Still, safety is a major issue. Although there are some instances when the use of a simple ladder may suffice, there can also be situations when hard-to-reach areas need to be addressed. This is when the power and versatility of the modern scissor lift comes into play. How does a scissor lift work? What are some of the major benefits when using a scissor lift? What tasks can it help you accomplish? You might be slightly surprised to learn just how versatile these modern marvels are.

How Does a Scissor Lift Work? The Basics Explained

A scissor lift is comprised of a base, a series of interlocking accordion-like metal struts and platform that allows you to safely work at heights thanks to a sturdy handrail and a set of user controls (there are often controls on the base of the unit as well). Scissor lifts can be powered by petrol, mains electricity or both in the case of a hybrid model.

The main concept behind a scissor lift is that it will provide you with the ability to vertically raise the platform to a desired height by extending its built-in struts (much like expanding an accordion). Another impressive feature of scissor lifts is that they offer a wide and yet stable working area; a very real concern when performing tasks at heights that would be too risky to approach with a ladder.

Scissor lifts are also portable. They can easily navigate an area via the controls at the top or the bottom. Once you have reached the desired location, the brakes will be applied in order to lock the entire unit firmly in place. It should also be mentioned that you will not be forced to repetitively climb up and down a ladder to retrieve tools or materials. These can be placed atop the working platform before it is raised.

Now that we have a basic understanding of how a scissor lift functions, let's take a look at some of the tasks that can be completed with the help of this ingenious piece of machinery.

Common Building Maintenance Requirements

Scissor lifts are often used when performing standard building maintenance tasks. Some perfect applications include (but are by no means limited to) changing overhead lights (such as within a gymnasium or a parking lot), inspecting HVAC units, cleaning windows, and replacing old or damaged signage. As scissor lifts are mobile, they are also ideally suited if you happen to be addressing repetitive tasks.

Generalised Construction Needs

The construction sector will also employ scissor lifts on a regular basis. For example, these machines can be great if you are required to offload a massive amount of bricks from a truck before placing them on a second-story structure. Lifts can also be helpful when completing renovations or if you happen to need to access a roof. Some of the skilled professionals who will utilise scissor lifts include:

• Painters
• Bricklayers
• Masons
• Architects
• Electricians

In terms of industry-wide versatility, you simply cannot go wrong when choosing a scissor lift.

Storage Locations and Warehouses

The warehousing industry is associated with challenging day-to-day tasks. Retrieving stock, counting inventory and transporting pallets prior to a shipment are all common demands. The fact of the matter is that these are not often able to be accomplished with muscle and a step ladder alone. Scissor lifts can easily negotiate tight spaces and they will provide workers with an added degree of safety when performing actions at height.

The Production Sector

Production plants will also employ the humble scissor lift on a regular basis. From agriculture to chemical processing and everything in between, there is no doubt that these lifts are able to make light work out of tough tasks. As adhering to regulations is often paramount within these environments, it only stands to reason that a scissor lift is employed.

The Retail Environment

You might also be surprised to learn that scissor lifts can be used when blocking and facing an aisle of products or when retrieving an item for a customer within a retail environment. As always, the levels of safety and versatility that these machines can offer are simply unrivalled. This is why countless business owners and professionals choose to hire such lifts.

How much does a scissor lift cost to rent? The answer to this question is that this can widely vary depending on your requirements, which is why we encourage all clients to get in touch with us to discuss their individual needs. Give us a call today on 01793 95 33 55.