Falls and equipment turn-overs are the most common cause of death in ___ lifts.

• A. Boom-supported
• B. Scissor-type
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is safety hazards specific to how the lift is designed and used. Scissor-type lifts are raised straight up on a relatively wide, stabilizing base but often without the outriggers or stabilization features found on some boom lifts. That combination makes tipping more likely if the ground isn’t perfectly level or the load isn’t centered, and it also makes workers more vulnerable to falls when they lean, reach, or stand near the rails. Because these lifts frequently operate indoors at height with workers close to edges and with minimal external stabilization, falls from the platform and overturns are the most common fatal incidents for this type of equipment.