Aerial lifts — boom lifts and scissor lifts — are mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), and they sit under their own family of rules: the ANSI A92 standards and OSHA, with 1926.453 on construction sites and 1910.67 in general industry. They get a pre-use check before every use and a full inspection at least once a year. This guide lays out who inspects, what each check covers, the standards that apply, and the findings we catch most.
We are 3P Safety Inspections, a third-party crane inspection company working all 50 states. Our inspectors hold NCCCO cards. We inspect to OSHA and the ASME B30 codes, and we do not sell or rent cranes — so our reports just give you the facts.
The Inspection Schedule
Aerial lifts ride two cycles, the same logic as a crane:
- Pre-use — before each use, by the operator, every shift
- Frequent — per the manufacturer and service, by a competent person
- Annual — at least every 12 months, by a qualified person
- After any event — a tip, a strike, or a hard landing
Pre-Use Check — Every Use
The operator inspects the machine before it leaves the ground, every use — not weekly. A pre-use check covers:
- Upper and lower controls, and the ground override
- Emergency stop and emergency lowering
- Hydraulic leaks, hoses, and cylinders
- Tires, wheels, and outriggers
- Guardrails, gate, and platform
- Tilt sensor, alarms, and horn
- Fall-arrest anchor points and decals
Annual Inspection — By a Qualified Person
Once a year a qualified person runs the deeper inspection under ANSI A92 and the maker’s manual:
- Booms, scissors, pins, and pivot wear
- Cylinders, valves, hoses, and seals
- Wheels, brakes, steering, and drive
- Structural welds and load-bearing members
- Fall-arrest anchor points and rated load
- Control, interlock, and tilt-system calibration
- Capacity decals and safety markings
The Standards That Apply
Aerial work platforms changed standards in recent years, when the old A92.5 and A92.6 gave way to the A92.2x series. The current framework:
- ANSI A92.20 — design of MEWPs
- ANSI A92.22 — safe use of MEWPs
- ANSI A92.24 — training for MEWPs
- OSHA 1926.453 — aerial lifts on construction sites
- OSHA 1910.67 — vehicle-mounted platforms in general industry
- The manufacturer’s manual for the specific unit
Who Counts as a Qualified Person
The annual inspection on an aerial lift has to be done by a person qualified on that machine type — trained, experienced, and able to judge the structure and systems against the standard and the maker’s manual. The operator running the pre-use check is competent for that task, but the annual is a higher bar. Our inspectors meet it, and inspect to ANSI A92, OSHA, and the manufacturer’s criteria.
Common Aerial Lift Findings
On real machines, the same defects come up again and again:
- Worn or weather-checked tires
- Hydraulic leaks at hoses and cylinders
- Dead alarms or a non-functioning tilt sensor
- Missing or illegible capacity decals
- Fall-arrest anchors painted over or removed
- Damaged guardrails or a sticking platform gate
- Sloppy pins and worn pivot points
Crane Inspection Frequency at a Glance
| Inspection | How Often | Who Performs It | What It Covers | Record Kept? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shift / Daily | Before each shift or use | Competent person (often the operator) | Controls, brakes, wire rope, hooks, leaks, tires or tracks, safety devices | Good practice |
| Monthly | Every 30 days | Competent person | Wire rope along its length, hooks and latches, hoist brakes | Yes — signed and dated |
| Frequent | Daily to monthly, by service class | Competent person | Running gear and high-wear items per ASME B30 | Per your program |
| Annual / Periodic | Every 12 months | Qualified person | The full machine: structure, welds, sheaves, drums, hydraulics, controls | Yes — full written report |
| After an event | After a repair, modification, storm, or idle period | Qualified person | The affected systems, before the crane returns to service | Yes |
The Standards Behind These Checks
Our reports point to the exact standard, not a vague note:
- OSHA 1926.1412 — cranes on construction sites
- OSHA 1910.179 and 1910.180 — cranes in plants
- ASME B30.5, B30.3, and B30.2 — mobile, tower, and overhead cranes
- ASME B30.9 through B30.26 — slings and rigging hardware
- ANSI A92 — aerial work platforms
- EM 385-1-1 — federal and military job sites
What You Get in Your Report
You walk away with proof you can file:
- A punch list of what to fix first
- A clear PDF report with photos
- Each finding tied to a photo and a rule
- Severity ratings you can act on
- A spreadsheet you can load into your CMMS
Why Owners Pick 3P Safety Inspections
We do not sell or rent cranes, so the report has no angle. We hit our times and skip the jargon. We price the job up front, with no surprise fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must an aerial lift be inspected?
A pre-use check before every use by the operator, frequent checks per the manufacturer, and a full inspection at least once a year by a qualified person — under ANSI A92 and OSHA 1926.453 or 1910.67. The pre-use check is required every use, not weekly.
What standards cover aerial lift inspection?
The ANSI A92 family — A92.20 (design), A92.22 (safe use), and A92.24 (training) — plus OSHA 1926.453 on construction, 1910.67 in general industry, and the manufacturer’s manual for the unit.
Who can inspect an aerial lift?
The operator runs the pre-use check. The annual inspection must be done by a qualified person trained on that machine type. Our inspectors are NCCCO-certified and inspect to ANSI A92, OSHA, and the maker’s manual.
What is checked on the annual aerial lift inspection?
Booms, scissors, pins, and pivots. Cylinders, valves, hoses, and seals. Wheels, brakes, steering, and drive. Structural welds. Fall-arrest anchors and rated load. And control, interlock, and tilt calibration.
What are the most common aerial lift inspection findings?
Worn tires, hydraulic leaks, dead alarms or tilt sensors, missing or illegible capacity decals, fall-arrest anchors painted over or removed, damaged guardrails, and worn pivot pins.
Did the ANSI standards for aerial lifts change?
Yes. The older A92.5 and A92.6 standards were replaced by the A92.2x series — A92.20, A92.22, and A92.24 — which updated design, safe-use, and training requirements for MEWPs.
Do boom lifts and scissor lifts follow the same rules?
Yes — both are MEWPs under ANSI A92 and OSHA, with a pre-use check and an annual inspection. Each adds the checks specific to its design, like articulation on booms or pothole protection on scissors.
Do you inspect aerial lifts nationwide?
Yes. We inspect boom and scissor lifts in all 50 states, with NCCCO-certified inspectors and 24-to-72-hour scheduling.
Authoritative References
OSHA 1910.179 — Overhead & Gantry CranesThe official standard, straight from the source.Visit source about OSHA 1910.179 — Overhead & Gantry Cranes
ASME B30 — Safety Standard for Cranes & RiggingThe official standard, straight from the source.Visit source about ASME B30 — Safety Standard for Cranes & Rigging
NCCCO — Crane Operator & Inspector CertificationThe official standard, straight from the source.Visit source about NCCCO — Crane Operator & Inspector Certification