Lifts by job · 6m to 20m working height
Lifts for events and filming
Event and production work runs to a timetable: rig, show, de-rig, often at night and around a lot of other people. Indoors that usually means a quiet electric scissor lift; outdoors on grass it means a rough terrain machine or a boom, and a firm eye on the wind forecast.
How high is the job?
Common working heights for this kind of work. Measure your own job to the highest point you need to reach: working height allows for a person standing on the platform, about 2m above the platform floor.
| Task | Typical working height | Machine types often used |
|---|---|---|
| Venue lighting, truss, drapes and AV | 6m to 10m | Electric scissor lift |
| Outdoor stages, PA, banners and dressing | 8m to 14m | Rough terrain scissor or boom |
| Camera positions and high-angle shots | 12m to 20m and above | Articulated or telescopic boom |
Machine classes used for this work
Electric scissor lifts
Quiet, no exhaust and a deck big enough for two crew and fixtures. The standard machine for rigging inside venues, halls and studios on a level floor.
Rough terrain scissor lifts
Diesel 4x4 scissors with a big deck for outdoor stages and festival sites on firm, reasonably level ground.
Boom lifts
Reach up and over a crowd barrier, a stage roof or a set to place lights or a camera exactly where you want them. Articulated booms bend over obstacles; telescopic booms give the most height and reach.
Electric spider lifts
Tracks for lawns and parkland with no engine running, for quiet shoots and grounds where wheels would sink.
Catalogue machines in this range
Machines we hire in the classes and heights above, with their key specs, for you to compare with your job. Every figure on the machine pages comes from the maker's data sheet.
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Check the access and ground before it arrives
- Check the ground on the route and where the machine works. HSE says MEWPs need firm, level ground; grass, cable ramps and temporary covers all need checking.
- Check the wind limit in the maker's data and set a maximum safe wind speed for the job, as HSE advises. Many electric scissor lifts carry fewer people or reach less height outdoors, and some are rated for indoor use only.
- Keep crowds and crew out from under the platform with barriers, and never drive through an audience.
- Count everything that goes up against the platform capacity: crew, camera, fixtures and cable. The capacity is on each machine page.
- Light the loading and working areas for night work, and plan where the delivery lorry can unload safely.
- Have a rescue plan and someone on the ground who knows the ground controls, as HSE advises.
IPAF cards and safety
Whoever operates the machine needs an IPAF PAL card, or equivalent training, that covers its category. The card lists the categories the holder is trained on, and each machine page on this site shows its category.
Scissor lifts are IPAF 3a. Self-propelled booms are 3b and spider lifts are 1b.
IPAF strongly recommends a full-body harness and short restraint lanyard in boom-type platforms, including for camera operators.
HSE puts duties on event organisers to plan work at height, check the weather and use competent people. Production managers can take IPAF's MEWPs for Managers course.
Book it for the days you need
You set a fixed end date when you book and pay for those days up front, so there are no open-ended charges. On delivered hires we arrange collection from your end date. Need longer? Call us before it ends and we will extend it.
Questions
- Can I use an electric scissor lift outdoors at an event?
- Only if the maker rates it for outdoor use, and within its wind limit. Some electric slab scissors are indoor only, and others carry fewer people outdoors. Rough terrain scissor lifts are built for grass and uneven outdoor ground.
- Which lift is quietest for filming?
- A battery machine: electric scissor lifts, electric booms and electric spider lifts have no engine running while they work. Use the electric filter on the machine list to see them.
- Can a camera operator work from a boom lift?
- Yes, within the platform's rated capacity for people and kit. The operator should hold the right IPAF card, and IPAF strongly recommends a harness with a short lanyard in any boom-type platform.
- Do the hire dates need to cover rig and de-rig?
- If the machine is used on those days, yes. The hire runs from your start date to a fixed end date, and on delivered hires we arrange collection from that end date. Delivery and collection are priced by your postcode before you pay.
- How long can I hire it for?
- You choose the start and end dates when you book and pay for those days up front, so the hire has a fixed end date and no open-ended charges. On delivered hires we arrange collection from your end date, so there is no call to off-hire. Need longer? Call 0333 038 4946 before the end date and we will extend it.
Sources
Safety points on this page summarise public guidance. Read the full text before you plan the work.