Aerial Lift (MEWP) Operator Training
MEWP operator training for scissor lifts and boom lifts, built on ANSI A92.22 and A92.24 and the OSHA rules, with hands-on evaluation on your lifts.
What to Expect
Aerial lifts, now called mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) in the ANSI standards, put workers at height on a machine that can tip, collapse or strike overhead hazards. Our training covers both families: scissor lifts and other vertical lifts, and boom lifts. Operators learn the controls, the pre-start inspection, the safe use plan and fall protection for the lift they will run, then show it on your machine.
- Standards
- ANSI/SAIA A92.22 (safe use) and A92.24 (training); OSHA 29 CFR 1926.453 for boom lifts and 1926.451, 1926.452(w) and 1926.454 for scissor lifts
- Who needs it
- MEWP operators, plus occupants who ride the platform and the supervisors who direct MEWP work
- Proof of training
- Documented with the trainee and trainer names, the completion date and the MEWP group and type covered
- Format
- Onsite at your job site, yard or facility, on your own equipment: classroom instruction, hands-on practice and an evaluation on the machine.
Scissor lifts and boom lifts follow different OSHA rules
OSHA treats boom-supported platforms as aerial lifts under 29 CFR 1926.453. Scissor lifts are not aerial lifts under that standard: OSHA has said they meet the definition of a scaffold, so the general scaffold rules (1926.451), the mobile scaffold rules (1926.452(w)) and the scaffold training requirements (1926.454) apply. The practical difference shows up in fall protection: on a boom lift, workers wear a harness with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket; on a scissor lift, properly maintained guardrails are the fall protection. See our scissor lift and boom lift pages for the details.
What ANSI adds: occupants, supervisors and familiarization
The ANSI A92 standards, which took effect in 2020, go further than the older OSHA text. They call for training for operators, basic instruction for occupants (including how to use the controls in an emergency), training for supervisors, and familiarization on the specific model before an operator uses it. They also expect a safe use plan for the job, with a site risk assessment, a rescue plan and selection of the right MEWP.
What the course covers
- MEWP groups and types (Group A vertical, Group B boom) and choosing the right lift
- Pre-start inspection before each shift, and taking a defective lift out of service
- Function tests of the platform and ground controls
- Stability: ground conditions, slopes, potholes, wind and load limits
- Fall protection for boom lifts and guardrail rules for scissor lifts
- Overhead hazards: power lines, structures and crushing against the platform
- Safe use plan, site risk assessment and rescue planning
- Familiarization on your specific makes and models
- Built on ANSI A92.22 & A92.24
- Scissor and Boom Lifts
- Operator, Occupant & Supervisor Training
- Model Familiarization
- Hands-On Evaluation
- Proof of Training Records
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Other courses we deliver
- Scissor Lift TrainingScissor lift training built on OSHA's scaffold rules and ANSI A92: guardrails, tip-over and collapse hazards, and a hands-on evaluation on your lifts.
- Boom Lift TrainingBoom lift training for articulating and telescopic booms: OSHA 1926.453, harness and lanyard use, stability and a hands-on evaluation on your lifts.
- Telehandler TrainingTelehandler training built on OSHA's forklift rule, 1910.178(l): load charts, boom stability, rough terrain and a practical evaluation on your machine.
What Our Clients Said
- Expert Safety Training
- Customized Safety Programs
- OSHA Compliance Support
- Industrial Hygiene Surveys
- Onsite Safety Inspections
- Written Safety Program Development
“Brad and his team are very helpful and knowledgeable. They came to our job site and conducted safety training that was not only thorough and compliant, but genuinely engaging for our crew. I highly recommend BHG Heavy Equipment to any company that takes workplace safety seriously.”
Aerial Lift Training Questions
We get a lot of the same great questions from new clients. Here are the answers to the ones we hear most often — if yours isn't listed, don't hesitate to reach out directly.
Onsite Safety Training Session