Equipment Selection Guide (Industrial Man Lifts)

Which lift type should I compare first?

Begin with the position of the work, not the largest height in a brochure. A machine that reaches the right elevation may still lack the required outreach, platform space or access clearance.

Power source is a separate decision. Compare electric man lifts after defining the movement and platform arrangement. Electric power alone does not establish that a machine suits an outdoor, wet or hazardous location.

Working height vs. platform height: what is the difference?

Platform height describes the elevation of the platform. Working height is a published reach convention that must be checked in the manufacturer's specification. Record the actual task elevation separately: the operator must be able to perform the work from the permitted position without relying on an assumed reach allowance.

For example, a hypothetical task at 24 feet and a machine with a 19-foot platform height are not enough information to approve a selection. Confirm the manufacturer's stated working height, the task position and the permitted operator posture. Do not stand on rails or add improvised height to close a gap.

Will the lift fit through the access route?

Measure each restriction along the complete route to the work area. A doorway is only one checkpoint; a right-angle turn, threshold, low service pipe or loading area can rule out an otherwise suitable model.

• Width: record the clear opening, including hardware and obstructions, rather than the nominal door size.
• Height: compare the documented stowed configuration. If folding rails are proposed, confirm the permitted procedure and resulting dimensions.
• Turns: collect the approach width and available turning space. Machine width alone does not establish turning clearance.
• Supporting surface: provide floor or ground information for review, including ramps, covers, pits and transitions. Machine weight and local wheel loading are different checks.

Illustrative measurement example: an opening measured at 36 inches and a machine listed at 35 inches leave only one inch of total nominal clearance. That arithmetic does not establish an acceptable route. Check measurement accuracy, projections, turning alignment and the manufacturer's instructions before selecting the machine.

What should I confirm about electric lift charging?

Ask for the charger and battery specifications of the quoted machine. Battery voltage is not the same as charger input voltage, and the presence of an outlet does not establish that the available circuit is suitable.

• Battery chemistry, voltage and capacity for the proposed configuration
• Charger input voltage, current, plug and circuit requirements
• Permitted charging location and any ventilation or temperature conditions
• Available charging periods between work shifts
• Battery maintenance and replacement requirements in the applicable manual

Describe the expected shift, travel and elevation pattern instead of assuming a published battery capacity guarantees a full workday. Ask what operating assumptions support any runtime estimate supplied with the proposal.

Which platform capacity applies to the task?

Add the people, tools and materials carried on the platform, then compare that load with the documented limit for the intended operating position. Keep main-platform capacity, extension-deck capacity and any height-dependent limit separate.

A worked RFQ example: one 190-pound operator, 35 pounds of tools and 60 pounds of materials total 285 pounds before accounting for any other carried items. State where the load will be positioned. A total below a main-platform rating does not establish that the same load is permitted on an extended deck or in every operating condition.

Genie's linked GS-1330m specification sheet illustrates why separate fields matter: it lists different limits for the main platform and extended deck and explains its working-height convention. It is a dated model-specific example, not a rating to transfer to another lift. Use current documentation for the exact machine being quoted.

Industrial man lift RFQ checklist

Copy the following outline into your inquiry. Write “needs confirmation” where a requirement is unresolved rather than selecting a value that appears close.

1. Work: task description, actual elevation, horizontal distance and obstructions.
2. Load: number of people, tools, materials and their proposed position.
3. Route: doorway openings, stowed height limits, turns and transitions.
4. Site: supporting surface, indoor/outdoor conditions and relevant worksite restrictions.
5. Power: preferred power source, available circuit and charging periods where applicable.
6. Equipment: model references, quantity, requested options and whether selected machines are alternatives.
7. Documentation: ask for configuration-specific specifications, load restrictions and the applicable manual.

Send your equipment requirements for a quote. Before accepting a proposal, compare the exact model, quantities, options and unresolved requirements with your original worksheet.

What operating checks belong in the selection review?

Equipment selection and the worksite operating plan need to agree. Identify operator training, pre-use inspections, defect reporting and the response to a stopped elevated platform. Establish the work zone and any spotter requirements from the site assessment and exact model instructions. A catalog listing does not replace those procedures.

Documentation for the selection review

• OSHA scissor-lift guidance: worksite hazards and the distinction between scissor lifts and boom-supported aerial lifts.
• OSHA aerial-lift guidance: hazard recognition and safe-work planning.
• Genie GS-1330m specification sheet, November 2019: example of height conventions, stowed dimensions and separate capacity fields. Confirm the current revision for any proposed machine.

These references support the checks above; they do not certify a product or approve a site. The exact equipment documentation and applicable workplace requirements govern the final selection and use.