Lifts and ladders are very routine equipment to have on a jobsite. In function, they do essentially the same thing — help you reach places that are too high for you to reach on your own. The big difference is that after a certain point, ladders become less of an aid and more of a safety hazard for the user.
Scissor lifts can get you higher with better safety and stability. While a scissor lift is often a good option, purchasing one might not be the right move for you. In this case, you might want to rent a scissor lift. There are a few pieces of criteria for you to consider before you can determine if renting a scissor lift would make sense.
Heights
The first thing you need to take into consideration is the heights you or your workers will need to reach. Although ladders have no maximum height, they are not nearly as stable as a scissor lift. Ladders either lean on something like the side of a house or a wall or are supported by just four legs. This kind of construction makes the ladder easy to tip over. If you don’t need to reach too high up, a ladder should be fine and does not pose an excessive hazard.
Scissor lifts have a platform for you to stand on that raises as needed. This capability helps make reaching multiple heights easier. When you have a variety of heights that you need to access, a scissor lift would be a very convenient alternative to multiple ladders or having to manually move an extension ladder to different heights.
Duration of Use
Ladders can be good to use as long as you don’t have to be standing on them for very long. When doing long-term work on a ladder, it can be tough on the body and dangerous for the worker. Using a scissor lift would be quite beneficial and ideal in this situation. Standing on the little steps of a ladder that you have to balance your feet on is far less comfortable and tolerable than on a platform. When dealing with longer periods of work on an area that is high up and requires some sort of ladder assist, a scissor lift is the more suitable solution.
Taking the length of time needed to complete the project at a height into consideration is important and a good way of determining which piece of equipment would be most helpful for you. If you need to be standing at a place requiring some sort of lifting for a long time, it might make sense for you to rent a scissor lift.
How Often Height is Needed
If you often have to work from a height, it may be time for you to invest in buying your own scissor lift. If you work in a field of construction where you don’t typically need to be lifted up high to complete your job, renting a scissor lift could be a good choice for you. Since scissor lifts are quite an investment, like many pieces of construction equipment, you need to determine if you can just rent one as needed.
If you will only need the services of a scissor lift for a month, renting would be an appropriate course of action. In the case that you would need to be using the scissor lift for longer than a month or two, you may want to start thinking about long-term scissor lift use. Consider if it’s worth purchasing your own.
Is a Scissor Lift Rental Right for You?
Ladders might be good for things like changing a lightbulb or painting the ceiling of a small room, but when you start doing things like repairing a roof or installing light fixtures, you will want to start considering scissor lifts. It’s important to first consider if a scissor lift would fit your needs and be right for you. Then you can determine if you need it for enough of an extended amount of time with continual use for you to buy it or if renting would make more sense.
Think about the heights you need to reach, the duration you will be at the height, and the length of time needed at varying heights. Taking the time to do your own research and then discuss the situation within your company, as well as with an expert, is the best way to come to the right decision for you and your company.
