Elevating work platforms are hired, shared and moved between sites more than almost any other plant, and their inspection history travels badly. AS 2550.10 requires an annual inspection and a major inspection at ten years, recorded in the log book that must stay with the machine. Boom-type EWPs with a boom length of 11 metres or more also require design and item registration.
We inspect boom lifts, scissor lifts, vertical lifts and truck-mounted EWPs to AS 2550.10 and AS/NZS 1418.10, on site or in the hire yard, and complete the log book and certificate required for the machine to stay in service.
Inspection checklist areas
- Boom, scissor stack and structure
- MT of boom section, jib and turntable welds; scissor arm, pivot pin and centre pin wear; slew ring clearance and bolts; wear pads and retention on telescopic sections.
- Platform and basket
- Platform floor and rail condition, gate and self-closing latch, anchorage points for harnesses, platform rotator and levelling system, rated load and persons markings.
- Controls and safety devices
- Platform and ground controls, emergency stop and emergency lowering, enable switches, tilt alarm and cut-out, overload or load sensing system, descent alarm, pothole protection on scissor lifts, outrigger interlocks.
- Hydraulics and drive
- Cylinder holding valves and drift test, hose condition, drive and brake function, steering, battery or engine condition.
- Chassis, axles and tyres
- Chassis and axle welds, oscillating axle function and lock, outriggers, tyre condition including foam-filled or solid tyres, wheel nuts.
- Log book and registration
- Log book completeness, previous annual and major inspection records, design and item registration for boom-type EWPs of 11 m or more, decals and load charts.
Known failure modes
Boom or scissor structural failure
Fatigue cracking at boom pivots, turntable welds and scissor arm pins, particularly on high-cycle hire machines.
Overturning
Operation on slopes beyond the tilt limit with alarms disabled, on soft ground, or with outriggers not deployed.
Platform drift or descent
Holding valve or cylinder seal failure allowing uncontrolled lowering.
Crushing against structures
Control faults or absence of secondary guarding allowing operators to be trapped between the platform and overhead structures.
Falls from the platform
Defective gates, rails or anchorage points, or a platform used without harness attachment on boom lifts.
Applicable standards and regulations
| Reference | Title | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| AS 2550.10 | Cranes, hoists and winches — Safe use — Mobile elevating work platforms | Annual inspection, major inspection and log book requirements. |
| AS/NZS 1418.10 | Cranes, hoists and winches — Mobile elevating work platforms | Design basis for structure, stability and safety devices. |
| AS 2550.1 | Cranes, hoists and winches — Safe use — General requirements | General inspection framework applying to EWPs. |
| AS/NZS 1891 series | Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices | Basis for assessing platform anchorage points and harness requirements. |
| Model WHS Regulations, Schedule 5 | Plant requiring design and item registration | Boom-type EWPs with a boom length of 11 m or more require design and item registration. |
Inspection intervals
- Annual inspection
- At intervals not exceeding 12 months by a competent person, recorded in the log book (AS 2550.10).
- Major inspection
- At ten years from manufacture under AS 2550.10, involving detailed inspection with disassembly as required, and thereafter at intervals set by the competent person.
When to inspect
- Annual inspection due or log book not up to date
- Machine reaching ten years of age
- Before hire, purchase or introduction to site
- After overturning, contact with structures or powerlines, or overload
- After structural repair or component replacement
Frequently asked questions
What is checked at a ten-year major inspection of an EWP?
The complete structure, including boom or scissor sections, pins, turntable and chassis, with paint removal and NDT at critical welds; hydraulic cylinders and holding valves; electrical and control systems; safety devices; and the machine's history. The outcome is a documented statement of fitness for continued service and any conditions.
Do scissor lifts need the same inspections as boom lifts?
Yes. AS 2550.10 applies to all mobile elevating work platforms. Scissor lifts have specific checks — scissor arm and pin wear, pothole protection, platform extension and tilt cut-out — but the annual and major inspection requirements are the same.
Which EWPs require registration?
Boom-type EWPs with a boom length of 11 metres or more require design and item registration under Schedule 5 of the model WHS Regulations. Scissor lifts and shorter boom lifts do not, but still require inspection and log books.
Can you inspect hire fleet EWPs in the yard?
Yes. Hire yard inspections are common for annual and major inspections, and reports are issued per machine with log book entries completed.