Free · no email required
Scissor lift inspection checklist
The daily pre-use inspection for a scissor lift, item by item, with what to look for on each one: a walk-around with the platform stowed, then function tests from the ground and from the platform. Print it and keep it in the lift’s manual box.
Other equipment: boom lift checklist · forklift checklist
What the standards ask for
The ANSI A92 standards for mobile elevating work platforms have the operator inspect the lift and test its functions before each work shift, following the manufacturer’s manual.
A lift with a defect is tagged and taken out of service until it is repaired. Writing the inspection down is how you show it happened.
Walk-around
Platform stowed. Walk around it.
Fluid leaks under the unit Out of service
Look at the floor where the unit was parked. Any puddle of oil, hydraulic fluid, coolant, or fuel.
Tires and wheels Out of service
No chunking, gouging, flat spots, or exposed cord. Pneumatic tires at correct pressure.
Hydraulic hoses, fittings, and cylinders Out of service
No leaks, cracks, chafing, or bulges. Fittings tight.
Hydraulic fluid level
Within the marked range on the dipstick or sight glass.
Data / capacity plate Out of service
Attached, legible, and matches any attachment installed on the unit.
Guardrails and entry gate Out of service
All rails installed and bolted or pinned, none bent or missing. Entry gate closes and latches, or entry chain hooks at both ends.
Platform extension Out of service
Deck extension slides in and out freely and locks with its pins in place. Deck dry, no debris.
Scissor arms and pins Out of service
No cracks in welds or arms. Pivot pins and retaining fasteners all present. Sliding wear pads present, not worn through.
Safety arm
Present, undamaged, stowed in its bracket. Must be used any time the platform is raised for inspection.
Pothole guards Out of service
Both guards present, not bent, nothing lodged behind them, move freely by hand.
Brake release stowed Out of service
Brake release / free-wheel valve in the operating position, not left in the towing position.
Platform control box Out of service
Box firmly mounted, switch guards in place, joystick returns to center on release.
Lanyard anchor points
Present and undamaged.
Chassis trays closed
Battery and hydraulic trays closed and latched.
Cables and wiring Out of service
No cut, pinched, or chafed cables or harnesses. No loose connectors.
Manual in storage box
Operator's manual present, complete, and legible in the on-board container.
Tilt indicator
Tilt indicator lamp is present, the lens is not broken, and it is not lit with the machine on level ground.
Function tests
Ground controls first, then from the platform.
Hour meter reading
Enter the current hours.
Gauges and warning lights Out of service
All gauges read normal. No warning or fault lamps stay lit after startup.
Horn Out of service
Sounds clearly.
Backup alarm Out of service
Sounds when the unit is put in reverse.
Lights and beacon
Every light the unit has, including any strobe or beacon, working.
Service brake Out of service
Unit stops firmly and travels straight. No grabbing, no soft or sinking pedal.
Parking brake Out of service
Holds the unit on an incline.
Steering Out of service
Smooth through full travel. No excessive play, binding, or wandering.
Forward and reverse control Out of service
Engages smoothly in both directions. No delay, no lurching.
Emergency stops Out of service
Red E-stop at ground and at platform each stop all functions when pressed. Reset before use.
Ground controls Out of service
Ground station raises and lowers the platform and overrides the platform controls.
Enable switch Out of service
Nothing moves unless the enable trigger or foot switch is held. Functions stop when released.
Emergency lowering Out of service
Manual descent valve at ground lowers the platform with the power off.
Pothole guards deploy Out of service
Guards drop when the platform is raised past about 4 ft and return when lowered.
Descent alarm
Alarm sounds while the platform is lowering.
Elevated drive cutout Out of service
With the platform raised, drive is slow speed only (or cut out above the rated height).
Unusual noises, smells, or vibration Out of service
Anything that was not there yesterday.
Anything else to report
Optional. Leave blank if nothing.
Depending on what it runs on
Only the section for your scissor lift’s power source applies.
Propane (LP)
LP tank mounted correctly Out of service
Strap or clamp latched and tight, and the tank does not move. The locating pin sits in the hole on the tank collar. The relief valve points straight up, away from the operator.
LP tank and hose condition Out of service
Tank free of dents, gouges, deep rust, or damage to the collar or foot ring, with a current requalification date. Hose has no cracks, splits, chafing, or kinks, and the quick-disconnect is fully seated.
No smell of propane Out of service
If gas is detected, shut the tank valve and tag the truck out immediately. Do not start it.
Electric
Battery and charger Out of service
Charger unplugged and cord stowed. Terminals tight, no corrosion. Fluid covers plates (flooded). Adequate charge for the shift.
Diesel or gasoline
Engine oil level
Between the marks on the dipstick.
Coolant level
At the fill line in the overflow tank. Check only when the engine is cold.
Fuel level and no fuel leaks Out of service
Cap secure. No smell of fuel, no wet spots on lines or tank.
Why these checks matter
A scissor lift tips when it drives into a hole or onto a slope with the platform raised. The pothole guards, the tilt alarm and the slow drive with the platform up are what prevent that, and they only show a fault when you test them.
The emergency stops and the emergency lowering valve are the way down when something goes wrong in the air. They are tested on the ground, before anyone needs them.
Items marked Out of service take the lift out of service when they fail. The rest still need reporting, but they do not necessarily stop the shift. The manufacturer’s manual is the final word on what to check on your model.