In Facilities Management, Scissor Lifts are a common way to work at height - and a common source of falls when they are misused. This guide explains how Facilities Management teams in Ireland use Scissor Lifts safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Scissor Lifts in Facilities Management: where the risk lies
A maintenance technician changing high-bay lighting in a shopping centre, balancing footfall, access equipment and a tight overnight window. Scissor Lifts are suited to vertical access for indoor and firm-ground tasks such as installation, maintenance and high-bay work, but in a Facilities Management setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Scissor Lifts
Before any Facilities Management worker uses Scissor Lifts, confirm that:
- The platform extension is locked when used
- Controls and emergency lowering function correctly
- Travel routes are clear of overheads and obstructions
- Guardrails and gates are intact
The relevant standard here is EN 280, operated by IPAF 3a card holders, thoroughly examined every 6 months.
Common Scissor Lifts faults to never ignore
- No inspection record
- Overloading the platform
- Untrained use
- Overreaching or climbing the guardrails
FM teams carry out the widest variety of height tasks of any sector, so general Working at Heights training plus task-specific assessments are essential.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
Here is the good news: getting compliant is fast and inexpensive. Our Working at Heights Course is delivered fully online, takes about 45 minutes, and issues a downloadable certificate the same day. It is CPD certified, RoSPA approved and QQI aligned, and it is written specifically for Facilities Management teams using Scissor Lifts.
The Working at Heights Training covers the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy, ladder and stepladder safety, MEWPs and scaffolds, harnesses and anchor points, and how to carry out a proper risk assessment. Every learner finishes with a recognised Working at Heights Certificate that stands up to HSA inspection and supports your insurance position.
Training that goes beyond the tick-box
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious and fatal workplace injury in Ireland, year after year. The pattern is depressingly consistent for Scissor Lifts in Facilities Management: a short task, a familiar setting, a ladder or platform that seemed fine, and a single moment of overreach. Proper training breaks that pattern by making the safe choice the automatic one.
The rescue plan is the part most teams forget. If a worker doing Scissor Lifts in Facilities Management falls and is left hanging in a harness, suspension trauma can become life-threatening within minutes. Calling the emergency services is not a rescue plan; having the equipment, the trained people and the method to recover them quickly is. Our Working at Heights Training makes that planning routine.
Frequently asked questions
Do Facilities Management workers need training to use Scissor Lifts?
Yes. Safe use of Scissor Lifts is part of working at height. A Working at Heights Course covers selection, inspection and safe use for Facilities Management tasks.
How often should Scissor Lifts be inspected?
Before every use by the operator, plus formal recorded inspections to the relevant standard. Keep the logs for HSA inspection.
Is online training enough for Facilities Management height work?
Our online Working at Heights Training covers the legal and safe-system knowledge; equipment-specific practical tickets (such as IPAF or PASMA) are added where the task requires them.
Get certified today
Do not wait for an HSA inspection or a near miss to act. Facilities Management teams can complete the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes and download a certificate the same day. For 10 or more learners, see our team training rates, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Start the online Working at Heights Training now and put a recognised certificate in every worker's file before the next job at height begins.
