Aerial Lifts

Yes. Regardless of who owns the aerial lift, operators must be trained and certified through Environmental Health & Safety.

Refer to the operator's manual for specific requirements established by the manufacturer. Scissor lifts are considered "mobile scaffolds" by OSHA, and personal fall arrest systems may not be required provided that the guardrail system is fully intact and the operator is using the lift properly (i.e. feet on the bottom of the platform and not over-reaching outside of the basket). Best practice is to always wear a harness when working at heights greater than 4 feet above the next lower level at Virginia Tech.  

Yes. Related hazards basically remain the same where personnel lift equipment is used.

Yes, if the manufacturer of the aerial lift requires it. For example, JLG brand does require an annual inspection by a representative of the company. Other brands may not. In Virginia, you must follow the manufacturer's requirements, which are specified as "shall" or "must", rather than "should" or "may" in the wording. Refer to your Owner's/Operator's Manual for the make and model of lift that you have, and/or call the manufacturer's rep for guidance.