Aerial & Scissor Lifts - Washington (DOSH)

"I've run a scissor lift before" is a common answer on a jobsite, and in Washington it is not enough. Washington regulates scissor lifts, boom lifts, and truck-mounted aerial lifts under its own chapter, 296-869 WAC, and for scissor lifts and self-propelled boom lifts it asks for two things federal construction rules don't spell out: a maintenance schedule with numbers on it, and training on the specific model the operator is about to use, with records to prove both. This Washington Aerial & Scissor Lift Toolbox Talk covers the inspections, the model-specific training, and the workplace survey Washington requires.

Where the boundary of this talk sits#

This talk covers what Washington's elevating work platform chapter adds: equipment categories, mechanic inspections, records, operator training, and the workplace survey. Fall protection inside the basket, rescue from a lift, and general operating technique belong to their own talks.

The anchor#

Here is the distinction that carries this whole talk: in Washington an elevating work platform has a paper trail for the machine and for the operator — a person qualified as a mechanic on that make and model must do a frequent inspection once it has been in service 3 months or 150 hours, whichever comes first, and an annual inspection no later than 13 months after the last one, with records kept 3 years for boom-supported and manually propelled units and 4 years for self-propelled units; and before anyone operates a particular model, they must be familiarized with that model's controls and manuals and demonstrate operating it, with records kept per model — so "I've used a lift before" and "the rental company handles that" are not answers the rule accepts.

What counts as an elevating work platform#

WAC 296-869-100 applies the chapter to aerial lifts and three kinds of elevating work platforms. It exempts only platforms used by fire services under the firefighter standards and for agriculture under the agriculture standards, so construction is covered. The definitions in WAC 296-869-099:

• Aerial lift: an aerial device mounted on a vehicle such as a truck, trailer, or all-terrain vehicle.
• Manually propelled elevating work platform: pushed by hand, with a platform that cannot be positioned completely beyond the base.
• Self-propelled elevating work platform: drives itself, with a platform that cannot be positioned completely beyond the base. Most scissor lifts fall here.
• Boom-supported elevating work platform: self-propelled, with a boom-supported platform that can be positioned completely beyond the base.

The category matters, because Washington sets different record periods for different types.

The mechanic's inspections#

WAC 296-869-40010 requires two inspections done by a mechanic, not by the operator.

Frequent inspection. When an elevating work platform has been in service 3 months or 150 hours, whichever comes first, and before putting back into service one that has been out of service for more than 3 months. It must be done by a person qualified as a mechanic on the specific make and model. It covers all functions and controls for speed, smoothness, and limits of motion; lower controls and the override of upper controls on self-propelled and boom-supported units; emergency lowering on manually propelled units; chain and cable mechanisms; all emergency and safety devices; lubrication and fluids as the manufacturer specifies; structural and critical components such as pins, fasteners, shafts, turntable bolts on boom-supported units, and locking devices; and placards, warnings, and control markings.

Annual inspection. No later than 13 months from the date of the last annual inspection, covering everything the manufacturer specifies for an annual inspection.

The rule also advises that newly purchased used equipment be given the equivalent of a frequent inspection before it goes into service.

The records#

WAC 296-869-40025 requires inspection records showing the date, the deficiencies found, the corrective action recommended, and the names of the people who did the inspection, and repair records showing the date, a description of the work, and who did it. The rule says it is the owner's responsibility to make sure frequent and annual inspections are done and documented. Records are kept:

• 3 years for manually propelled and boom-supported elevating work platforms; and
• 4 years for self-propelled elevating work platforms.

On a job with a rented lift, the owner is the rental company. The contractor using it should still see that the inspections are current before the lift goes up.

Training: the program and the model#

WAC 296-869-50005 says the employer must permit only trained and authorized personnel to operate elevating work platforms, with training on the manufacturer's operating and maintenance manuals, the employer's work instructions, and the requirements of the chapter.

WAC 296-869-50010 then adds specific model training. Before operating a particular platform, the operator must:

• read and understand the manufacturer's operating instructions and the employer's safety rules, or have them explained by a qualified person;
• be instructed by a qualified person in the intended purpose and function of each control;
• know that the required manuals are stored in a weather-resistant compartment, know where it is, and refer to the manuals when necessary; and
• demonstrate operating the same model, or one with similar controls and operating characteristics, under qualified supervision in an area free of obstructions.

WAC 296-869-50015 requires records of the operators trained on each model, kept 3 years for manually propelled and boom-supported platforms and 4 years for self-propelled platforms.

The workplace survey#

WAC 296-869-60010 requires a survey of the work area before and during use for drop-offs or holes, slopes, bumps and floor obstructions, debris, overhead obstructions and high-voltage conductors, hazardous locations, surfaces that cannot support the platform's load in all configurations, wind and weather, unauthorized people in the area, and other unsafe conditions.

Washington versus federal#

The federal rule, 29 CFR 1926.453, covers vehicle-mounted aerial devices such as extensible and articulating boom platforms, requires that lift controls be tested each day before use, and says only authorized persons may operate an aerial lift. It sets no frequent or annual inspection interval and no record retention period. For manually propelled, self-propelled, and boom-supported elevating work platforms, Washington adds a mechanic's inspection every 3 months or 150 hours, an annual inspection within 13 months, inspection and repair records kept 3 or 4 years, model-specific training with a practical demonstration, and training records per model.

Where the duty sits#

WAC 296-869-099 and -100 set definitions and scope. WAC 296-869-40010 sets frequent and annual inspections. WAC 296-869-40025 sets inspection and repair records. WAC 296-869-50005, -50010, and -50015 set authorization, model-specific training, and training records. WAC 296-869-60010 sets the workplace survey. For contrast, federal 29 CFR 1926.453.

What can go wrong?#

• A new boom lift arrives and the operator has only ever run scissor lifts.
• Nobody knows when the rented scissor lift last had its 150-hour inspection.
• A lift that sat in the yard all winter goes straight back to work.
• The manual is missing from the weather-resistant box.
• The platform is driven onto a slab edge nobody surveyed.

How do we manage this properly?#

• Check the machine's paperwork — frequent inspection within 3 months or 150 hours, annual within 13 months.
• Out of service over 3 months? — frequent inspection before it goes back to work.
• Train on the model — controls, manuals, and a demonstration before first use.
• Keep the records — 3 years for boom and push-around units, 4 years for self-propelled.
• Survey before and during use — holes, slopes, overhead lines, ground support, wind.

Before you start#

Confirm you've been trained on this exact model or one with the same controls. Check the inspection decal or record, the manual in its box, and the ground and overhead where you'll work.

Talk it over#

• When was this lift's last frequent inspection, and how many hours are on it?
• Have you been familiarized on this model's controls?
• What's overhead and underfoot where we're setting up today?

The bottom line#

Washington regulates aerial and scissor lifts under chapter 296-869 WAC. A mechanic qualified on the make and model inspects each platform every 3 months or 150 hours and at least every 13 months for the annual, and after more than 3 months out of service. Operators are trained on the program and on the specific model, with a hands-on demonstration. Inspection, repair, and training records are kept 3 years for boom-supported and manually propelled units and 4 years for self-propelled units. And every setup starts with a workplace survey.

Frequently asked questions about Washington aerial lift rules#

How often must a scissor lift be inspected in Washington?

Under WAC 296-869-40010, a frequent inspection by a person qualified as a mechanic on that make and model is required once the platform has been in service 3 months or 150 hours, whichever comes first, and an annual inspection no later than 13 months after the last one. Records for self-propelled units, like most scissor lifts, are kept 4 years.

Download the Washington aerial and scissor lift toolbox talk PDF#

Download this Washington Aerial & Scissor Lift Toolbox Talk as a printable PDF in English and Spanish, and use it when a new lift model arrives on site.

Related toolbox talks#

• Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety
• Aerial Boom Lift Safety
• Scissor Lift Rescue
• Overhead Power Lines

Sources#

• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-869-099 — Definitions and WAC 296-869-100 — Scope (aerial lifts; manually propelled, self-propelled, and boom-supported platforms; fire service and agriculture excluded): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-869-100
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-869-40010 — Inspections (frequent at 3 months or 150 hours and after more than 3 months out of service, by a mechanic qualified on the make and model; annual within 13 months): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-869-40010
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-869-40025 — Inspection and repair records (contents; owner responsibility; 3 years manually propelled and boom-supported, 4 years self-propelled): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-869-40025
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-869-50005, -50010, -50015 (trained and authorized operators; specific model training and demonstration; training records per model, 3 or 4 years): https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-869-50010
• Washington State Legislature, WAC 296-869-60010 — Workplace survey: https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-869-60010
• OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.453 (aerial lift types; controls tested each day; only authorized persons operate): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.453

Written by FieldSafetyTalk's safety professional — a CSP, ASP, CHST and OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.

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