Access Equipment Hire decisions begin with the task, not the badge on the machine.
01 / Scissor lifts, booms and vertical lifts compared
Scissor lifts raise a wide platform straight up and are the workhorse for fit-outs, ceiling services, warehouse maintenance and façade work where the machine can get close to the work face. Electric slab scissors are compact, quiet and produce no exhaust, making them suitable indoors on concrete floors. Rough-terrain scissors, usually diesel or dual fuel, have larger tyres, outriggers or levelling systems and bigger platforms for outdoor construction sites. Scissors carry more people and materials than most booms but offer little or no outreach.
Boom lifts provide reach up and over obstacles. Knuckle (articulating) booms have jointed arms that can climb over plant, parapets or racking and then reach down or across, which makes them useful in congested plant rooms and around structures. Telescopic (straight) booms deliver the greatest horizontal outreach and height for a given base, suiting steel erection, tilt-up panels and building exteriors. Vertical personnel lifts are narrow, lightweight single-person machines for low-level indoor work, able to fit through standard doorways and into lifts in some cases.
02 / Choosing height, outreach and platform size
Suppliers usually quote platform height, and the working height is commonly described as about two metres above the platform, reflecting an average person's reach. Measure the highest point you need to work on, then allow margin for obstacles and the angle you will approach from. For booms, outreach is often the deciding factor: a machine that reaches 20 m straight up may have much less horizontal reach at that height. Ask for the machine's working envelope diagram rather than relying on headline figures alone.
Platform capacity matters when lifting materials or tools. Scissor lifts commonly carry two or more people plus materials, while many booms have lower limits, and some change their permitted outreach depending on the load in the basket. Consider the number of workers, the weight of tools and materials, and whether items like glazing panels or ductwork will fit within the platform rails. Platform extension decks on scissor lifts can bridge gaps to a wall or across a void, but they may carry a lower rating.
03 / Ground conditions, floors and site access
EWPs exert concentrated loads through their wheels or outriggers, and ground conditions are a major factor in tip-over risk. Outdoors, check for soft ground, backfilled trenches, pits and slopes beyond the machine's rated gradient. Indoors, confirm that suspended slabs, mezzanines and raised floors can take the machine's weight and wheel loads; the supplier can provide the machine's weight and point loads for an engineer to assess. Service pits and penetrations in slabs are a hidden hazard, so cover or barricade them.
Access into the building is often overlooked. Measure door widths, heights and ramp gradients, and check whether a goods lift can take the machine's weight and dimensions if it needs to reach an upper floor. Non-marking tyres are important for finished floors in retail, hospital or commercial fit-outs. Electric machines need charging access overnight, and battery run time should be discussed if the machine will work long shifts. Outdoors, wind speed limits apply to every EWP, and work usually stops when the rated limit is exceeded.
04 / Licensing, training and rescue planning
In Australia, operating a boom-type EWP where the boom length is 11 m or more requires a high risk work licence. Scissor lifts, vertical lifts and booms under 11 m do not require that licence, but operators must still be trained and competent, and most sites and hire companies expect evidence of EWP-specific training or a verification of competency. Familiarisation with the particular make and model, including emergency lowering controls, is also expected before use.
Fall protection requirements differ between machine types. A harness attached to the designated anchor point is standard practice in boom lifts, where catapult and ejection risks exist. In scissor lifts, the guardrails normally serve as fall protection, though some sites have their own rules. Every EWP job should have a rescue plan covering how an operator would be brought down if they become incapacitated or the machine fails at height, and someone on the ground trained in the emergency lowering procedure.
05 / Delivery, costs and supplier standards
Small scissor lifts can often be delivered on a tilt tray or small truck, while large rough-terrain scissors and tall booms need a truck with enough deck length and may be charged at a higher delivery rate. Delivery and collection are usually charged each way, and the time window may affect the price for after-hours or weekend delivery. Check whether the site has space for the truck to unload safely and whether the machine can drive from the unloading point to the work area.
Beyond the daily or weekly rate, common costs include damage waiver, cleaning for machines returned with paint, plaster or concrete overspray, fuel for diesel units, and charges for flat batteries or lost keys. Good suppliers deliver EWPs with current inspection records, working emergency controls and a clean logbook, and they provide a proper handover. They should also respond quickly to breakdowns, because a failed machine can leave a crew idle or, worse, a worker stranded at height.
Field checklist
- Measure the highest work point and required outreach, not just platform height.
- Confirm the number of workers and weight of tools and materials on the platform.
- Check floor loading, door widths, ramps and goods lift capacity before choosing a machine.
- Confirm operator licensing for booms 11 m or more and training for all other EWPs.
- Prepare a rescue plan and brief a ground person on emergency lowering.
- Ask for non-marking tyres on finished floors and check charging access for electric units.
- Clarify delivery charges, damage waiver and cleaning fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to operate a hired scissor lift?
A high risk work licence is not required for scissor lifts in Australia. However, operators must be trained and competent, and many hire companies and sites expect evidence of EWP training or a verification of competency. You should also be familiarised with the specific model, including its emergency lowering controls, before using it on site.
What licence do I need for a boom lift?
Operating a boom-type EWP with a boom length of 11 m or more requires a high risk work licence. Booms under 11 m do not need that licence, but operators still need training and competency, and sites commonly ask for proof. Check the boom length of the specific machine before assuming which requirement applies.
Should I hire a knuckle boom or a telescopic boom?
A knuckle boom suits jobs where you need to reach up and over obstacles such as plant, parapets or racking, and then position the basket precisely. A telescopic boom suits jobs needing maximum height and horizontal reach from one spot, such as steel erection or building exteriors. Ask the supplier for the working envelope of each machine to compare.
Can a scissor lift be used on a suspended slab?
Often yes, but the slab must be able to carry the machine's weight and wheel loads. Ask the hire company for the machine's total weight and point loads, and have a structural engineer or the building's designer confirm the slab can take them. Cover or barricade any penetrations and pits in the slab before the machine moves across it.