Personnel Lifts vs Scissor Lifts for Low-Level Work
A lot of access work happens at low level – fitting ceilings, running cables, installing lights. For these jobs, a compact personnel lift can often do the work of a scissor lift for a fraction of the size and cost.
What is a personnel lift?
Personnel lifts – sometimes called low-level access platforms – include push-around towers such as the Power Tower and Eco Lift range, and small self-propelled machines like the Skyjack SJ16. They're designed to lift one person and their tools to around 4–6m working height.
Why choose a personnel lift?
- Lightweight – suitable for floors with low load limits.
- Compact – fits through doorways, into goods lifts and into tight rooms.
- Easy to move – some fit in a van.
- Lower cost – cheaper to buy and run than a full-size scissor lift.
- Often no battery to charge – some manual models need no power at all.
When you need a scissor lift instead
- Two people need to work together on the platform
- You need to carry heavier materials
- The working height is above about 6m
- You'll drive long distances along the work area at height
We stock both personnel lifts and scissor lifts, all fully serviced with a LOLER certificate. Browse our stock or ask us which suits your work.