A scissor lift is one of the most efficient lifting solutions designed for working at different heights. Like other heavy-duty equipment, you get the real value of scissor lift hire when you get one that checks all the right boxes.
Before you hire a scissor lift for your project, there are basic things to consider in terms of safety, cost and convenience. In this post, we’ll provide an ultimate checklist for scissor lift hire near me to guide you through the process of getting the right scissor lift for your project.
Safety Features
When working in elevated positions, safety has to be a top priority. This begins with choosing equipment with inbuilt safety features to protect you from falls and other mishaps. Generally, you want your scissor lift to have a stable platform. The platform should be sturdy enough to support the weight of workers, construction materials, and equipment.
The scissor lift should also have guardrails on the side that keeps workers from going over the edge. Additional safety features to watch out for include an emergency stop button that allows you to shut off the lift instantly, harnesses to keep workers anchored to the lift and safety locks that keep the lift from working when certain safety conditions are not met. Although a scissor lift may not have all the safety features mentioned, it should at least have the most basic ones to prevent accidents and injuries
Lifting Height and Weight Capacity
Some of the biggest scissor lifts have a platform that can support the weight of up to four workers, their tools and construction materials. But not all lifts are this powerful. The height range of the scissor lift also varies between 2 to 18 metres on average.
Before hiring a scissor lift, ensure you check the weight capacity and height range to see if it fits your project requirements. Depending on the nature of your project, you may need to rent multiple compact scissor lifts or a single large lift.
Scissor Lift Type
There are different types of scissor lifts based on how they’re powered and their lifting mechanisms. The lift can be powered by either diesel or electricity. Your choice between these two options depends largely on where you intend to use the lift.
Diesel scissor lifts tend to be more powerful, but they are loud and produce fumes, which makes them unsuitable for indoor usage. If you intend to use the lift indoors, you’re better off with an electric lift. You may also go for a rugged, rough terrain scissor lift if your project requires you to work in difficult outdoor terrains.
In terms of their lifting mechanism, a scissor lift can either be powered by a hydraulic (fluid-based) or pneumatic (air-based) Mechanism. Hydraulic lifts can handle significantly heavier loads compared to pneumatic lifts. This makes the pneumatic lifts better suited for smaller jobs where a lower force output is required.
Rental Costs
You also have to consider the cost of scissor lift hire before you get one. This includes the actual rental cost as well as additional fees such as transportation, insurance, and operator costs. This is one of the most important questions to ask the rental company you’re getting the lift from. Rental costs often depend on the size of the scissor lift, height and scissor lift type.
Ease of Operation
Scissor lifts are generally easy to operate. However, the ease of operation may also vary for different units. If you’re not familiar with scissor lift use and you do not intend to hire a professional operator, you should go for an easy-to-use unit. Some of the features that may influence the ease of operation for a scissor lift include intuitive control, a clear operator manual and user-friendly platform features.
If the scissor lift is overly complex, you’ll waste a lot of time trying to figure out how to operate it or training your workers. This will end up slowing down your entire project. An easy-to-use lift gets workers up and working quickly.
Size and Transportability
As part of your scissor lift rental checklist, you have to consider how you’ll get the lift to your construction size. The size of the scissor lift will determine how easy it will be to transport the scissor lift to your construction site. Some rental companies provide transportation as part of your rental package. For other companies, you’ll have to handle logistics and delivery on your own.
Transportability is another reason to get construction equipment from a local rental company near you. The farther away the rental company is, the more you’ll have to pay to get the unit to and from your site.
The size of the lift will also determine whether or not it’ll fit into your site. While you may want to get a large lift because it can lift more workers at once, this may not be a practical plan if you don’t have enough space on your site for the machine.
Conclusion
Before you go for scissor lift hire near me, you should spend some time evaluating your options based on the factors listed above. Choosing the right lift for the job will enhance convenience for workers and maximise efficiency on the job site. To learn more about scissor lift hire or get a scissor lift for your next project, contact easyToolhire. Our experts will guide you through the rental process to help you get the ideal one for your needs.
