Scissor Lift Rentals Chicago, IL

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has no specific regulations that require lift users to be licensed. However, the agency stipulates that only "authorized persons" assigned by an employer to specific duties are permitted to use a scissor lift. This makes employers largely responsible for ensuring that lifts are operated safely.

Under OSHA guidelines, employers must train employees on how to work safely around scissor lifts and understand the hazards they present. OSHA also provides a one-hour scissor lift training course online that covers the importance of inspections; precautions for preventing falls, tips, electrocution, etc.; safety procedures and precautions; applicable OSHA standards; and other key topics.

Scissor lifts can provide access to work sites 19 to 50 feet off the ground, depending on the model. You'll get greater load-bearing capacity with heavier models. A 19-foot electric lift might weigh between 2,700 and 5,600 pounds and be able to bear 500 to 700 pounds, depending on the model.

By contrast, a wide scissor lift with a 40-foot vertical reach might weigh roughly 8,600 to 13,600 pounds and be able to bear between 800 and 1,500 pounds. A 50-foot rough-terrain lift can weigh from 11,800 to 17,000 pounds and carry up to 2,250 pounds.

Scissor lift rental costs vary depending on the model, size, and jobsite location. They can be rented by the day, week, or month. A 19 foot, narrow electric scissor lift starts at $97/day, $230/week, or $430/month. A 26 foot, wide electric scissor lift starts at $121/day, $338/week, or $624/month. A 32 foot, 4WD, rough-terrain scissor lift starts at $210/day, $533/week, or $1,092/month. Rough terrain scissor lifts typically cost more than electric scissor lifts.

The main advantage of a scissor lift is its larger platform. Unlike a boom lift, whose bucket typically accommodates just one person, a scissor lift can carry multiple people as well as loads that need to be elevated. Boom lifts are also more expensive, while scissor lifts are affordably priced rentals.

A boom lift, also called a bucket lift or cherry picker, is a piece of equipment that can raise someone in a small bucket or compact platform. It can elevate them more than three times as high as a scissor lift. If you need to go beyond the 40- or 50-foot maximum height of most scissor lifts, you will probably need a boom lift.

A boom lift is also a better choice if you need to move in different directions. The base of a telescopic boom lift can rotate, giving you more directional flexibility. An articulating boom lift offers help in reaching hard-to-access locations, thanks to arms that are jointed like a knee or elbow in one or more places. This allows you to move not just up, but up and over.

The type of scissor lift you need depends on multiple factors including load size, platform size, type of terrain, and height.

Electric scissor lifts generally have smaller frames and can fit through standard doorways and narrow passages when completely folded. Because they are electric-powered and have zero emissions, they are safe for indoor tasks. Typical uses include anything from general ceiling repair jobs to providing a sound platform for painting murals on large walls.

Rough terrain lifts come with four-wheel drive (4WD) and rugged tires for uneven or rough landscapes. They are used by both industrial and maintenance teams for tasks like tree trimming.

Both electric and rough terrain lifts come in different heights and sizes.

The rough terrain scissor lifts we offer at BigRentz are four wheel drive and can extend either 26 feet in the air, 32 feet, 40 feet, or all the way up to 50 feet. Keep in mind the max working height for each model is a little bit higher than that (32 feet, 38 feet, 47 feet, and 53 feet, respectively).

A rough terrain scissor lift rental price largely depends on the location and availability, which can fluctuate, and on how much vertical height you want. A 26-foot model costs the least at about $154 per day, $409 per week, and $1,008 per month. In comparison, a 50-foot model costs about $379 per day, $891 per week, and $2,187 per month.

Most of our scissor lifts have a lift capacity of 1,500 pounds, though some go up to 2,250 pounds. Check the spec sheet for the lift you're interested in renting.

Rough terrain scissor lifts are good for outdoor job sites where there is a lot of uneven terrain or steep slopes. They can also operate better in inclement weather than other types of scissor lifts. However, the type of power source they use should also factor into your decision:

• Diesel: Diesel powered scissor lifts are the most common type of scissor lifts. These machines are powerful and noisy, and thus are best suited for outdoor construction sites. Diesel vehicles are very common on construction sites, so you're likely to already have all the diesel equipment and fuel you need on site. Diesel also tends to get better fuel efficiency than gas.
• Gas: Gas is actually quite similar to diesel in terms of power and speed, but it's not as fuel efficient as diesel. Also, since most construction equipment runs on diesel, you may not have the necessary tools and fuel on site to keep the scissor lift functioning and will have to purchase and store that fuel separately.
• Electric: Electric scissor lifts are ideal if the job site is indoors or if you want to have a more environmentally friendly option because they do not produce emissions and are silent. They also tend to be less bulky than a diesel scissor lift, so they are good for tight spaces. You will have to charge the battery several hours before use, but it will last nearly all day, just check it periodically.