OSHA requires training for every worker who operates an aerial lift or scissor lift. This includes construction workers, maintenance crews, electricians, warehouse workers, painters, HVAC technicians, sign installers, and anyone who uses elevated work platforms. Training must be completed before the worker operates the equipment. Employers are responsible for ensuring all operators are properly trained.

eTraining’s Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety course takes approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete. The course is divided into 7 units with knowledge check quizzes throughout to prepare you for the final exam. It is self-paced, so you can pause and resume at any time on the same device.

An aerial lift (also called a boom lift or cherry picker) has an articulating or telescoping arm that can extend outward and upward, allowing workers to reach areas away from the base of the lift. A scissor lift uses a crisscrossing “scissor” mechanism to raise a platform straight up vertically. Scissor lifts can only move vertically, while aerial lifts can extend horizontally. Both require OSHA-compliant operator training.

OSHA does not specify a federal expiration date for aerial lift training. However, OSHA requires retraining when operators are observed operating unsafely, involved in an accident or near-miss, when workplace conditions change, or when assigned different types of equipment. Many employers require recertification every 3 years, similar to forklift certification requirements. eTraining recommends refresher training every 2–3 years.

OSHA requires workers in aerial lifts (boom lifts) to wear a full-body harness attached to the boom or basket. Workers are NOT permitted to tie off to adjacent structures. For scissor lifts, OSHA requires guardrails on all open sides but does not specifically require a personal fall arrest system (harness) unless the manufacturer requires it. However, many employers and safety programs require harnesses on scissor lifts as a best practice.

Yes. eTraining’s Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety course covers all OSHA-required training topics under 29 CFR 1926.453 and is accepted by employers nationwide. Employers may supplement online training with hands-on, equipment-specific instruction and a practical evaluation of operator skills, which is considered best practice.

The most common causes of aerial lift and scissor lift accidents are: (1) Falls from the platform; (2) Tip-overs from overloading, operating on uneven ground, or high winds; (3) Electrocution from contact with overhead power lines; (4) Being struck by falling objects or the lift itself; (5) Entrapment between the platform and overhead structures. Proper training, pre-operation inspections, and adherence to manufacturer guidelines prevent the majority of these incidents.

eTraining’s course covers BOTH aerial lifts and scissor lifts in a single comprehensive program. You do not need to purchase separate courses. The training addresses the specific hazards, operating procedures, and fall protection requirements for both types of elevated work platforms.

Yes. eTraining offers the complete Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety course in Spanish at the same price. The Spanish version covers the same OSHA 29 CFR 1926.453 content and provides the same personalized certificate upon completion.