Expanded Safety Guide

Aerial Lifts and Scissor Lifts — MEWP Classification in Canada

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) — the CSA B354 term that now covers what were traditionally called aerial lifts and scissor lifts — are among the most common causes of serious construction and industrial injury in Alberta. CSA B354 categorises MEWPs into Group A (vertical-only platforms such as scissor lifts) and Group B (platforms whose primary elevating structure extends beyond the base, including boom lifts).

Regulatory Requirements in Alberta

Alberta OHS Code Part 21 requires that anyone operating an aerial device or elevating work platform be trained and competent, and that the equipment meets CSA B354 design standards. Employers must maintain training records including operator name, machine class, date, and evaluator. Refresher training is required at minimum every 3 years, or immediately after a near-miss, incident, or new equipment introduction.

The Four Most Common Fatal MEWP Incidents

• Tip-overs from operating on uneven ground, exceeding slope limits, driving elevated over rough terrain, or exceeding platform capacity.
• Falls from platform when the guardrail system is opened, when workers climb on the mid-rail, or when fall arrest is not connected to the manufacturer-designated anchor.
• Contact with overhead lines — Alberta requires 7-metre clearance from overhead electrical lines up to 750V, with greater distances for higher voltages.
• Crushing between the platform and a fixed structure overhead, or between the boom and machinery below.

Pre-Use Inspection — Every Shift, Every Machine

Before operation, complete a documented pre-use inspection covering: fluid levels, tires and wheel condition, hydraulic hoses and cylinders for leaks or damage, all control functions from both ground and platform controls, emergency lowering function, guardrails and gates, decals and load charts legible, outriggers and stabilisers, alarms and interlocks. Any defect making the machine unsafe must be tagged out until repaired.

Fall Protection on Boom Lifts

Boom-type MEWPs (Group B) require occupants to wear a full-body harness attached to the manufacturer-designated anchor point at all times. Alberta OHS considers a boom lift a work-at-height hazard and fall protection is not optional even inside the guarded platform. Scissor lifts (Group A) rely on the guardrail as primary protection; personal fall arrest is not typically required unless the manufacturer or site plan mandates it.

Ground Conditions and Setup

Verify ground bearing capacity before setup. Soft asphalt on hot days, unmarked utility trenches, drainage covers, and unconsolidated backfill are all tip-over hazards. Timber pads or steel plates are required under outriggers on questionable ground. Never elevate a boom on a slope exceeding manufacturer limits. Wind ratings must be respected — most rough-terrain scissor lifts are limited to 45 km/h wind; boom lifts vary by model.

What This Online Course Covers

The Aerial & Scissor Lift online course delivers CSA B354-aligned classroom theory covering machine classification, hazard identification, pre-use inspection, safe operation, emergency procedures, and applicable Alberta OHS regulations. It fulfills the classroom portion of MEWP certification. Practical hands-on evaluation on the specific machines the operator will use is completed on-site by a qualified evaluator and combined with the online certificate for full certification.

Related training: Articulated Boom Truck · Fall Protection · Basic Safety Training

Content reviewed by Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC — lead safety instructor at Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety Calgary, an Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider.