Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

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Duration:  4 Hours

Target Audience: Employees operating aerial lifts, scissor lifts, and boom lifts

Regulatory Basis:

• Title 8 CCR § 3638 (Elevating Work Platforms – General Requirements)
• Title 8 CCR § 3640 (Operating Rules)
• Title 8 CCR § 3203 (Injury and Illness Prevention Program – training)

Learning Objective:
Ensure operators can safely inspect, operate, and work from MEWPs while recognizing hazards and complying with Cal/OSHA requirements.

• Definition and types of MEWPs:
  • Scissor lifts
  • Boom lifts (articulating & telescopic)
  • Vertical mast lifts
• Common uses across industries
• Incident statistics and leading causes of accident

• Operator training requirements:
  • Must be trained before operating equipment
• Employer responsibilities under §3203 (IIPP)
• Manufacturer requirements and adherence to manuals

• Major components:
  • Platform and guardrails
  • Controls (ground & platform)
• Emergency descent systems
• Stability systems and sensors
• Differences between indoor vs outdoor-rated equipment

• Fall hazards (ejection, climbing rails)
• Tip-over hazards:
  • Uneven ground
  • Overloading
• Electrical hazards (power lines)
• Struck-by and caught-in hazards
• Environmental conditions:
  • Wind
  • Weather
  • Traffic

• Visual inspection:
  • Structural components
  • Guardrails
  • Tires and outriggers
• Functional tests:
  • Controls
  • Emergency systems
• Documentation and reporting defects
• Tagging out unsafe equipment

• When fall protection is required:
• Boom lifts: Require personal fall arrest/restraint
• Scissor lifts: Guardrails are primary protection
• Proper harness use and anchorage points
• Avoiding common mistakes (e.g., tying off incorrectly)

• Emergency lowering procedures
• Equipment malfunction response
• Rescue planning (worker stranded at height)
• Incident reporting requirements

• Pre-use inspection demonstration
• Controls familiarization (ground & platform)
• Maneuvering exercises:
  • Raising/lowering
  • Positioning
• Emergency descent practic

• Written knowledge assessment
• Practical skills evaluation:
  • Safe operation
  • Hazard awareness
• Employer authorization to operate specific MEWP types