Warehouse and commercial overhead work with a scissor lift

Warehouse and commercial jobs that fit

In a warehouse, shop or tenant space, most overhead work is a long list of short tasks spread across a big floor. A scissor lift raises a railed platform straight up, so you finish one spot, lower it, roll to the next and keep tools and parts with you. Jobs that fit:

• Pallet racking and shelving: Setting beam levels, wire decking, row spacers, labels and signs on the upper levels of a rack run. 30 ft scissor lift
• Inventory counts and high shelves: Counting, labeling and reaching stock on high shelving in a stockroom, shop or retail back room. 19 ft scissor lift
• Signs, banners and wayfinding: Aisle markers, banners, interior signs and wall signs, with the lift on a firm, level floor. Seasonal displays: holiday lights lift guide. 30 ft scissor lift
• Sprinkler, HVAC and cable tray access: A railed platform for the crew working on ducts, unit heaters, cable tray, conduit and sprinkler lines. 30 ft scissor lift
• Tenant-improvement fit-outs: Tops of new walls, ceiling grid, data cabling and fixture moves in an empty tenant space before move-in. 19 ft scissor lift
• High-bay lighting: Fixture swaps row by row across a high-bay space; fixture and permit details are in the ceiling and lighting guide. 30 ft scissor lift

Pulling new circuits for racking lights or equipment? See the pulling wire through conduit guide.

Walk the slab, aisles and dock first

Washington’s WAC 296-869-60010 has the operator survey the area before and during use for hazards such as holes, bumps and floor obstructions, debris, overhead obstructions and a surface that can’t support the lift. In a commercial building, walk the route with that list:

• The slab: look for open floor drains, trench drain covers, broken joints, old anchor holes, pallet debris and shrink wrap. Wet or freshly sealed floors are worth waiting on.
• Anything that isn’t slab: mezzanines, raised floors, access covers and vault lids. If you can’t confirm one will carry the lift, ask the building owner before you drive onto it.
• Docks and ramps: a dock edge is a drop-off and a ramp is a slope. Plan the route so the lift stays well back from both.
• Racks and fixed objects: WAC 296-869-60020 prohibits positioning the lift against another object to steady it. OSHA’s scissor lift Hazard Alert (PDF) warns of crushing hazards when a moving lift is close to a fixed object or passes under one, such as a door frame or a support beam. Rack beams count.
• Overhead: note sprinkler heads and pipe, lights, ducts, unit heaters, cable tray, roll-up door tracks and rack tops along the route, not just at the work spot.
• Cords and hoses: WAC 296-869-60035 says to keep rope, electric cords, hoses and similar objects from getting tangled with the platform.
• Special areas: spray booths, flammable liquid storage and other hazardous locations need a hazard classification first under WAC 296-869-60015. Tell us about these areas before you book.

Loop in the building owner and the fire protection side

• Building owner or property manager: if you lease the space, check who approves work in it. Ask about work hours, dock access for delivery and any floor areas to avoid.
• Sprinklers: the lift can get a crew up to the pipe, but who does the work is set by state rule. WAC 212-80-018 says designing, installing, inspecting, testing, maintaining or repairing a sprinkler system, or any part of one, is limited to contractors with a state fire sprinkler contractor license. The Washington State Patrol fire sprinkler page says a Level 3 contractor covers any kind of work on any kind of structure.
• Fire permits: Pierce County’s Get a Fire Permit page covers fire alarm and fire sprinkler system permits. Its floor plans show storage placement and aisles, so a new rack layout can touch the fire side as well as the building side.
• Electrical: L&I’s electrical permit basics page explains when electrical work needs a permit. L&I’s permit page says businesses with regularly employed, qualified electricians or maintenance staff doing electrical work on the business property can buy annual electrical permits.

Summaries for planning only; follow the official text on each linked page.

Washington lift rules for commercial crews

Washington L&I’s Chapter 296-869 WAC, Elevating work platforms covers scissor lifts. In short:

• WAC 296-869-50005: employers must permit only trained and authorized personnel to operate them.
• WAC 296-869-50010: operators read the manufacturer’s instructions and decals, are shown each control by a qualified person, and demonstrate proficiency.
• WAC 296-869-60005: use the lift only for its intended purpose. Misuse includes using it as a crane.
• WAC 296-869-60035: before each raise, the lift is on a surface within the manufacturer’s limits, guardrails are in place and gates closed, the load is within the manufacturer’s rating, and there is clearance overhead.
• WAC 296-869-60040: keep a firm footing, and don’t use guardrails, planks, ladders or anything else to gain height or reach. Guardrails are the primary fall protection on scissor lifts.
• WAC 296-869-60045: if the operator suspects a malfunction or a hazard, stop, report it and don’t use the lift until it’s fixed.

Operator not included. You or your trained crew run the equipment.

Summaries for planning only; follow the linked official text.

Questions

What size scissor lift do I need for warehouse work?

Measure from the slab to the highest point you need to work at, such as the top beam level, a sign or a duct. The 30 ft lift is listed for higher work, including warehouses and shops; the 19 ft lift is listed for indoor work on firm, level surfaces. Specs are available on request, so send us that number before you book.

Can I use a scissor lift to install pallet racking?

Yes, for the work up high: beam levels, decking, labels and signs. WAC 296-869-60005 says to use it only for its intended purpose and lists using it as a crane as misuse, and WAC 296-869-60020 says not to position it against another object to steady it, so don't lean it on the racks.

Do I need a permit to put up pallet racking in Pierce County?

Pierce County's Work Exempt from Building Permit guide lists non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches as exempt. Taller or fixed racks are not on that list, so ask the county, or your city if you're inside city limits, before you install.

Can I work on fire sprinklers from a rented lift?

The lift gives a crew access to the pipe. Under WAC 212-80-018, designing, installing, inspecting, testing, maintaining or repairing a sprinkler system or any part of one is limited to contractors holding a state fire sprinkler contractor license.

Can the lift run in aisles while forklifts are working?

WAC 296-869-60020 says that when other moving equipment or vehicles are present, you take special precautions and use warnings such as flags, roped-off areas, flashing lights and barricades. Many crews close the aisle while the lift is up.

Do you deliver scissor lifts to commercial sites?

Yes. Delivery is $200 each way; your job-site address is checked at checkout. Free pickup in Pierce County; exact location sent after booking.

How much does it cost to rent a scissor lift for a warehouse job?

The 19 ft lift is $150 a day, $210 a weekend, $400 a week or $750 for 4 weeks. The 30 ft lift is $215 a day, $290 a weekend, $650 a week or $1,250 for 4 weeks, before tax. Your exact total shows at checkout.

More guides: all rental guides. Which guide fits your job? Painting or drywall in a shop or warehouse: painting and drywall guide.