Construction crews rely on a wide variety of access platforms to work safely at height. These include personal lifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, scaffolding, suspension equipment and many more. With the many different types and variations of access equipment available for hire, choosing the right equipment for your construction job can be daunting. 

Here are some important considerations to make when determining the best equipment for your job.

The Lifting Height of the Equipment

One of the major factors to look at when choosing access equipment for your project is the height at which work is to be done. Different types of access equipment provide varying lifting heights. The appropriate equipment for the job should allow workers to reach and work at that the desired height safely. 

The Weight Capacity of the Equipment

Different types of access equipment have different weight capacities. The maximum weight capacity of each piece of equipment must not be exceeded. Doing so may result in catastrophic workplace accidents, which may result in serious bodily injuries and costly damage to property.

The right equipment for your project should have sufficient capacity to support the weight of all personnel using the equipment, as well as the materials and tools they will be working with.

The Number of People to Be Lifted Concurrently 

From personal lifts and scissor lifts to boom lifts and scaffolding, different types of access platforms are available for lifting a single person or multiple people at the same time. When choosing your access equipment, make sure the platform size and weight capacities are designed for the number of people who will be using the equipment simultaneously.  

The Need for Mobility

Your mobility requirements are another important factor to mull over when selecting your access equipment. Mobile versions of access equipment are generally desirable if you need to work as you go or perform many small jobs at the same site. Some mobile elevating work platforms are self-propelled, while others will need to be pushed around the workplace.

Fixed access equipment is desirable when the job does not involve moving work equipment from one place to another.

When it comes to access equipment, the choices can be overwhelming, especially if it is your first time hiring this kind of equipment. However, there is no reason to panic. The staff at an access equipment hire company can explain your options and help you pick the best equipment for your project.