Essential safety training for working at height: scissor lifts and scaffold towers

Posted on 25th Nov, 2025 | By Alex Gutman

Working at height is a common requirement across construction, maintenance, and facilities management projects. Whether your team is using scissor lifts, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), or scaffold towers, ensuring proper training is essential. Not only does it reduce the risk of accidents, but it also helps maintain compliance with health and safety regulations and boosts overall site efficiency. 

At Browns Safety Services, we offer bookings for practical, hands-on Accredited MEWPs training, including scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and mobile booms (such as articulated and electric boom lifts), along with Accredited Tower Scaffold – Towers for Users training. These courses are designed to equip teams with the skills they need to operate safely and confidently when working at height.

Understanding training for scissor lifts and MEWPS 

Scissor lifts and other powered access equipment are invaluable tools for reaching elevated work areas. However, operating them without proper knowledge can lead to serious accidents. Training for these machines typically focuses on: 

• Safe operation and manoeuvring – learning how to move the lift safely, both vertically and horizontally. 
• Pre-use checks and inspections – ensuring equipment is fully functional before every use. 
• Hazard awareness – recognising potential risks such as unstable surfaces, overhead obstructions, and nearby personnel.
• Best practices for positioning and stability – understanding load limits, ground conditions, and correct positioning to avoid tipping. 

Who benefits from scissor lift training? 

• Lift operators and technicians 
• Supervisors and site managers 
• Anyone responsible for managing or overseeing work at height 

By attending a practical scissor lift course, participants gain confidence in operating equipment safely, reducing risk and ensuring that your site runs efficiently. 

Learn how Browns Safety Services can support your team with safe scissor lift operations. 

Understanding training for scaffold towers 

Scaffold towers are an essential solution for temporary elevated access, commonly used in construction, maintenance, and industrial projects. Accredited Tower Scaffold – Towers for Users training typically covers:

• Correct assembly and dismantling techniques – ensuring towers are stable and safe before use. 
• Inspection and maintenance – identifying worn components, loose fittings, or other hazards. 
• Understanding load limits and stability requirements – knowing how much weight the tower can safely support. 
• Practical, hands-on exercises – building and using towers in a controlled environment to reinforce safe practices. 

PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) provides guidance and recognised standards for scaffold tower use, and Browns Safety Services’ courses follow these principles closely. This approach ensures participants leave with the confidence and skills to use towers safely on site.

Who benefits from scaffold tower training? 

• Tradespeople regularly working at height 
• Site managers and supervisors 
• Safety officers responsible for ensuring compliance 

Practical training significantly reduces the risk of falls or structural failures, helping your projects run smoothly and safely. 

Discover how Browns Safety Services can assist with safe scaffold tower use on your projects. 

Why practical training matters 

Investing in proper safety training has multiple benefits: 

1. Reduces the risk of accidents and injuries – trained employees know how to identify and avoid hazards. 
2. Ensures compliance with regulations – aligns with HSE and industry best practices. 
3. Builds confidence and competence – operators and site staff can perform tasks efficiently and safely. 
4. Improves project efficiency – fewer accidents and downtime mean smoother workflows and faster completion. 

Tips for maximising safety on site 

• Conduct regular pre-use checks on all lifts and towers. 
• Ensure all staff receive hands-on training before using equipment unsupervised. 
• Keep records of training and safety checks for compliance purposes. 
• Use the right equipment for the right task – don’t improvise with unsuitable lifts or towers. 
• Encourage a culture of safety, where employees feel responsible for reporting hazards. 

Whether your team needs support with training for scissor lifts or scaffold towers, Browns Safety Services provides practical, hands-on training and on-site support. By focusing on safe operation, inspection, and hazard awareness, our courses give your team the confidence to work efficiently and safely at height.

Explore our scissor lift services and scaffold tower training courses to see how we can support your next project.