ANSI A92.6 was the American National Standard that governed self-propelled elevating work platforms, most commonly vertical scissor lifts, setting the rules for how those machines were designed, built, inspected, and operated. It was retired on August 15, 2021, and replaced by a three-part standard suite: A92.20 for design and manufacturing, A92.22 for safe use, and A92.24 for training. Equipment built to A92.6 is still working across the country, so the old standard still matters, but the rules that now govern how you use and staff that equipment come from the new suite.
What A92.6 Covered
A92.6 applied specifically to self-propelled elevating work platforms with an integral chassis. The defining feature of the machines in scope was that the platform stayed within the footprint of the base at all times. A standard vertical scissor lift is the clearest example: the platform rises straight up, supported directly above the wheels or tracks, and never extends beyond the machine’s tipping lines.
Other aerial equipment fell under different standards. Boom lifts, articulating platforms, and vehicle-mounted aerial devices were covered primarily by ANSI A92.2 and A92.5. Manually propelled platforms had their own standard in A92.3. That separation mattered because each standard imposed different stability requirements, load ratings, and operational rules, and applying the wrong protocol to the wrong machine created real safety gaps.
Under A92.6, manufacturers had to meet specific structural benchmarks before a unit could enter the market. Guardrails had to reach 42 inches above the platform surface, plus or minus 3 inches. Every unit needed an emergency lowering mechanism accessible from ground level so workers could be brought down during a power failure. The platform had to sustain a static test load of 1.5 times its rated workload on a level surface.1Southern Minnesota Inspection. ANSI/SIA A92.6-2006 Controls had to be clearly labeled and positioned so the operator kept visibility while moving the machine.
What Replaced A92.6 in 2021
The A92.20, A92.22, and A92.24 standards took effect on August 15, 2021, replacing A92.6 along with A92.3 and A92.5. Instead of maintaining a separate standard for each equipment type, the new framework consolidates all mobile elevating work platforms, called MEWPs, under one structure and splits the requirements by function:
- A92.20 sets the design and manufacturing rules for new equipment.
- A92.22 sets the safe use rules for jobsite operations, including planning, inspection, and rescue.
- A92.24 sets the training rules for operators, occupants, and supervisors.
What Still Applies to Older Machines
The change catches people off guard because the three parts of the new suite apply differently. A92.20’s design rules apply only to machines built after the compliance date. Equipment manufactured under A92.6 does not have to be retrofitted to meet A92.20’s design specifications.
A92.22 and A92.24 are a different story. The safe use and training rules apply to everyone operating MEWPs right now, regardless of when the equipment was built. A 2015 scissor lift built to A92.6 is still legal to operate, but the operator’s training, the site’s safe use plan, and the rescue procedures must meet the current standards. Ownership of the old machine does not grandfather the way it is used or the people using it.
MEWP Group and Type Classifications
The new suite retired the old naming conventions and organizes equipment by Group and Type. The classification drives training requirements, load-sensing rules, and operating restrictions, so getting it right is not optional.
Group A covers machines whose platform stays within the tipping lines at all times. Scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts sit here, and this is the direct successor category to the equipment A92.6 used to cover. Group B covers machines whose platform can extend beyond the tipping lines, such as boom lifts and articulating platforms.
Type 1 machines can travel only when the platform is stowed. Type 2 machines can travel with the platform elevated, but travel is controlled from a point on the chassis. Type 3 machines can travel with the platform elevated under control from the platform itself. Most self-propelled scissor lifts on construction sites are Group A, Type 3 machines.
Design Changes Under A92.20
Two major safety systems that A92.6 never required are now mandatory on new equipment.
Every MEWP must have an automatic load-sensing system that activates after the rated load is reached but before the load exceeds 120% of rated capacity. When it triggers, a red warning light flashes at the control positions and an audible alarm sounds for at least five seconds, repeating every minute while the overload persists. If the overload is detected while the platform is stationary, all platform movement locks out until the excess weight comes off. For Group A machines, the sensor does not have to activate until the platform is elevated more than one meter or 10% of total lift height, whichever is greater.
Every MEWP must also have an automatic tilt sensor that reads whether the chassis inclination is within the manufacturer’s permitted limits. If the machine is tilted past specification, the sensor stops the platform from elevating beyond the lowered travel position. The sensor has to be protected against accidental changes and require tools for any adjustment. Both systems target the leading cause of fatal scissor lift accidents: tip-overs from overloading or operating on uneven ground.
The Safe Use Plan Requirement
One of the largest operational changes from A92.6 is A92.22’s requirement for a written Safe Use Plan before any MEWP work begins on a jobsite. The plan has to be site-specific. A generic company document pulled from a filing cabinet does not satisfy the standard.
The plan has to include a risk assessment identifying hazards at the specific worksite, evaluating them, and setting control measures before the first lift goes up. It has to require daily hazard identification, with the operator evaluating the work area each shift for drop-offs or holes (including ones hidden by snow, ice, or water), slopes and floor obstructions, overhead obstructions, electrical conductors, hazardous atmospheres, soil or floor load-bearing capacity, wind and weather, and pedestrian or vehicle traffic. It has to document why the chosen MEWP is appropriate for the task, accounting for reach, capacity, terrain, and indoor or outdoor conditions.
The plan also has to include a documented rescue procedure for workers stranded at height, covering self-rescue, assisted rescue using ground controls or a second MEWP, and technical rescue by emergency services. Approximately 26 construction workers die each year in aerial lift incidents,2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Toolbox Talk: Aerial Lifts and many involve workers stuck at height after a malfunction or tip-over. A92.22 sets a target of making rescue contact within six minutes, which means the plan has to be written, the equipment staged, and the personnel trained before anyone leaves the ground.
Training, Familiarization, and New Roles
Before anyone operates a MEWP, A92.24 requires both classroom instruction and a hands-on practical evaluation. The classroom portion covers hazard recognition, load capacity limits, stability principles, the operator’s manual, pre-start inspection, and emergency lowering. The practical portion requires the trainee to demonstrate proficiency with the actual controls, including walk-around familiarization, setting the machine for work, operating all functions, and parking and securing the unit. Training must be conducted by a qualified person who understands the specific group and type of MEWP in use.
Retraining is required after a workplace accident or near-miss, when the employer introduces a different model or type of MEWP, when the operator shows unsafe practices or a lack of proficiency, or when a significant period has passed since the person last operated the equipment. Each retraining event has to be documented with the same rigor as initial training.
Training and familiarization are separate. Training qualifies a person to operate a class of MEWP. Familiarization introduces an already-trained operator to a specific machine they haven’t used before. An operator fully trained on Group A, Type 3 scissor lifts still needs familiarization when switching to another manufacturer’s model, because control layouts, safety features, and operating characteristics differ. Manufacturers must offer familiarization at delivery when requested, and dealers and owners have to keep records of who received familiarization and on which MEWP classification.
A92.24 also added two categories that did not exist under A92.6. Platform occupants who are not operating the lift still need instruction on fall protection and anchor points, how their movements affect stability, how to follow the site-specific safety plan, and how to perform emergency shutdown and lowering. Supervisors who oversee MEWP operators must complete training too, even if they never touch the controls. Supervisor training covers proper MEWP selection, applicable regulations and standards, hazards associated with MEWP use, and the location and contents of the operator’s manual.
Inspection Tiers
Both A92.6 and A92.22 organize inspections into three tiers with largely consistent intervals.
The pre-start inspection is done by the operator before each shift. It is a walk-around checking for visible damage, hydraulic leaks, tire condition, and proper function of all controls. It takes five to ten minutes and belongs to the operator, not a mechanic.
The frequent inspection is more thorough and is required every 90 days or after 150 hours of use, whichever comes first. It covers hydraulic system testing, examination of structural welds for fatigue or cracking, and verification that all safety devices function.
The annual inspection is a comprehensive review by a qualified mechanic, performed no later than 13 months after the previous annual inspection. The mechanic follows the manufacturer’s service manual and documents every finding. Machines that fail cannot return to service until deficiencies are corrected. A gap in inspection records is one of the first things an OSHA inspector looks for after an incident.
How OSHA Treats ANSI Compliance
ANSI standards are voluntary consensus standards, not federal regulations. OSHA does not directly enforce A92.6 or the current A92.20, A92.22, and A92.24 standards. OSHA does treat industry consensus standards as evidence that the industry recognizes a hazard and that feasible controls exist.3Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Significance of ANSI Standards With Respect to OSHA Requirements When OSHA investigates an aerial lift incident, inspectors routinely measure the employer’s practices against the applicable ANSI standard, and falling short can support a citation under the General Duty Clause, which requires employers to keep workplaces free of recognized hazards.
OSHA’s specific aerial lift regulation, 29 CFR 1926.453, requires that equipment be designed in conformance with ANSI A92.2-1969 and mandates daily control testing, authorization of operators, and fall protection.4eCFR. 29 CFR 1926.453 – Aerial Lifts Where OSHA has adopted an older consensus standard, employers who comply with the updated version will not be cited for violating the older one, as long as the newer standard is at least equally protective.3Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Significance of ANSI Standards With Respect to OSHA Requirements For scissor lift work today, that means building your safety program around A92.20, A92.22, and A92.24 satisfies OSHA’s expectations on the machines A92.6 used to cover.