General industry and construction, side by side
Neither part of the CFR names scissor lifts. OSHA applies the scaffold rules, and its letters and hazard alert say how. The columns show what each part's text asks and what the letters add.
| Topic | General industry (29 CFR 1910) | Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
|---|---|---|
| What kind of equipment it is | OSHA's 2016 hazard alert says many scissor lifts are covered under the scaffolding standard. The alert lists general industry standards 1910.23, 1910.28, 1910.29 and 1910.333, with section titles from before the 2017 revision of subpart D. Today 1910.28 sends employees on a scaffold to part 1926 subpart L.OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01, 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(12) | In its letter of August 1, 2000, OSHA said scissor lifts are not addressed by the aerial lift provisions of subpart L, meet the definition of a scaffold, and are subject to 1926.451 and to the mobile scaffold requirements of 1926.452(w).OSHA interpretation 2000-08-01, 29 CFR 1926.452(w) |
| When fall protection starts | The hazard alert says scissor lifts must have guardrails installed to prevent workers from falling. In general industry the 4-foot trigger for an unprotected side or edge sits in 1910.28(b)(1)(i).OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01, 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i) | Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level. For scaffolds not otherwise specified, each employee shall be protected by personal fall arrest systems or guardrail systems meeting paragraph (g)(4).29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1), 29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1)(vii) |
| The guardrail system | Guardrail systems used on scaffolds follow part 1926 subpart L through 1910.28(b)(12). The general industry guardrail paragraph, 1910.29(b), sets the top edge at 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches for other platforms.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(12), 29 CFR 1910.29(b)(1) | Guardrail systems shall be installed along all open sides and ends of platforms before the scaffold is released for use. The top edge on supported scaffolds placed in service after January 1, 2000 is between 38 inches and 45 inches above the platform, and the toprail withstands at least 200 pounds on all but single-point and two-point suspension scaffolds.29 CFR 1926.451(g)(4) |
| Tie-off | In its letters, OSHA said a worker on a scissor lift need only be protected from falling by a properly designed and maintained guardrail system, and that neither 1926.451 nor 1926.452(w) asks for tie-off when the guardrails are properly maintained. An additional fall protection device is needed if the guardrail system is less than adequate or the worker leaves the safety of the work platform.OSHA interpretation 1998-07-21, OSHA interpretation 2000-08-01 | |
| Moving the lift | The hazard alert advises following the manufacturer's instructions for safe movement, which usually rules out moving the lift in a raised position, and keeping the weight on the platform within the manufacturer's load rating. The alert creates no new legal obligations.OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01 | Casters and wheels shall be locked while the scaffold is used in a stationary manner. Employees shall not be allowed to ride on a mobile scaffold unless the surface is within 3 degrees of level and free of pits, holes and obstructions, the height to base width ratio is two to one or less unless the scaffold is designed to the stability tests, and the speed does not exceed 1 foot per second.29 CFR 1926.452(w)(2), 29 CFR 1926.452(w)(6) |
| Inspection before use | The hazard alert says to test and inspect controls and components before each use, check the guardrail systems and verify that the brakes hold, following the manufacturer's instructions.OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01 | Scaffolds and scaffold components shall be inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift, and after any occurrence that could affect a scaffold's structural integrity.29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3) |
| Training | The hazard alert says only trained workers should be allowed to use scissor lifts and that employers must provide training on the hazards, and it cites 1926.454.OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01, 29 CFR 1926.454(a) | The employer shall have each employee who works on a scaffold trained by a qualified person to recognize the hazards of the type of scaffold in use, and each employee who moves, operates, repairs, maintains or inspects a scaffold trained by a competent person.29 CFR 1926.454(a), 29 CFR 1926.454(b) |
| Power lines | Scaffolds shall not be erected, used, dismantled, altered or moved so that they, or conductive material handled on them, might come closer to exposed and energized power lines than the distances in the table of 1926.451(f)(6), unless the utility has been notified and has deenergized, relocated or covered the lines.29 CFR 1926.451(f)(6) | |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA interpretation | The letters of 1998 and 2000 are OSHA's reading of the scaffold paragraphs for scissor lifts. The 2016 hazard alert is a publication, not a standard: it says it creates no new legal obligations, and it describes both mandatory standards and advisory recommendations.OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01 |
| Consensus standard | ANSI A92.3 and A92.6 cover the manufacture, ownership and operation of scissor lifts, as the hazard alert notes. They are consensus standards and not OSHA requirements. The manufacturer's manual sets the load rating, wind limits and operating instructions you follow.OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01 |
| Recommended practice | A daily pre-use inspection log and a guardrail check before every elevation are good practice. They are recommended, not required, in the form of a written record, by the scaffold paragraphs.29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3) |
Does your state do it differently?
Some states run their own State Plan and write their own text, so the federal paragraphs above describe federal OSHA states. Look up your state on the State Plans page and read its rule before you rely on the federal wording.
What OSHA cited most under these standards in FY2025
| Paragraph | What it covers | FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1926.451(g)(1) | Fall protection for employees on a scaffold | 514 |
| 1926.451(e)(1) | 302 | |
| 1926.451(b)(1) | 259 | |
| 1926.451(g)(1)(vii) | Personal fall arrest or guardrail on scaffolds not otherwise specified | 253 |
| 1926.451(f)(3) | Competent person inspects before each work shift | 190 |
| 1926.451(f)(7) | 159 | |
| 1926.452(j)(2) | 96 | |
| 1926.452(c)(2) | 42 | |
| 1926.452(w)(2) | Wheels locked while stationary | 19 |
| 1926.452(c)(3) | 16 | |
| 1926.452(k)(5) | 15 | |
| 1926.452(c)(4) | 12 | |
| 1926.454(a) | 330 | |
| 1926.454(b) | 88 | |
| 1926.454(a)(1) | 27 | |
| 1926.454(c)(3) | 11 | |
| 1926.454(b)(2) | 6 | |
| 1926.454(a)(3) | 3 |
1926.451: 3,222 citations in FY2025 at 1,506 inspections, 3,087 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.452: 290 citations in FY2025 at 253 inspections, 278 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.454: 474 citations in FY2025 at 411 inspections, 437 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). Citation items issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Mistakes that turn up in inspections
- Calling it an aerial lift and applying the boom lift rules. OSHA's letter says scissor lifts are not addressed by the aerial lift provisions of subpart L, and treats them as scaffolds.OSHA interpretation 2000-08-01
- Tying the harness to a pole or structure beside the lift. OSHA's letters say the scaffold paragraphs do not ask for tie-off with properly maintained guardrails, and that an additional device is needed only when the guardrail is inadequate or the worker leaves the platform.OSHA interpretation 1998-07-21 and OSHA interpretation 2000-08-01
- Driving the lift while it is raised across a slab with holes or a slope. The mobile scaffold paragraph lets employees ride only on a surface within 3 degrees of level and free of pits, holes and obstructions.29 CFR 1926.452(w)(6)
- Letting an untrained worker take the lift. Scaffold training by a qualified person is due for each employee who works on a scaffold, and OSHA's hazard alert says only trained workers should use scissor lifts.29 CFR 1926.454(a) and OSHA interpretation 2016-02-01
Free tool
A pre-use record for scaffolds and lifts: tag out any defect, sign it and print the PDF.