Lifts are construction equipment used to hoist materials and people to higher elevations. The three main types of lifts are boom lifts, scissor lifts, and material lifts. Boom lifts comprise a platform/bucket, long arm, and ground base. Scissor lifts are the same as boom lifts, except they can only move up and down and not forward.
Used lifts generally range in price from $8,000 - $70,000.
Popular brands include JLG, Skyjack, Haulotte, and Power Towers.
Lifts are used when a job requires reaching an elevation that a forklift or ladder can’t reach. This includes erecting scaffolding, picking fruit, painting structures, hanging highway signs, installing lighting, and even movie production.
Scissorlift: 4,700 lbs. Boom Lift: 20,000 lbs Material Lift: $500
Lifts take both workers and the operator high off the ground, making mismanagement potentially fatal. All operators and workers should wear a safety harness when on a boom lift. Other safety hazards include tipping, falling, and pinning. Never exceed a boom lift's maximum weight and range, use PPE, and operate based on the owner manual’s guidelines.
When buying a used lift, assess your needs, including the terrain, load/lifting requirements, height, and budget. When looking at specific brands and models, look at the reviews. Lastly, look at the maintenance record and features like self-driving, towable, telescoping, and articulating when looking at a particular unit.
The more hours a lift accumulates, the closer its components get to their limits. Specific parts to look at are the engine, panels and railings, hydraulics, operator controls, rotation/extension function, and platform condition.
The average lift operator in the United States makes $30,540 a year.
Lift operators must be aware of the risks they pose to their safety. OSHA requires that workers complete a certification process
