What this is
What is aerial work platform training?
What is aerial work platform training?
It is the KnowTrain record run before someone operates a scissor or boom lift, covering ground conditions, fall protection, outriggers and emergency lowering. It is delivered by a certified trainer and closes with a practical evaluation on the actual machine, not a classroom-only sign-off.
What is the difference between a scissor lift and a boom lift for this training?
A scissor lift moves straight up and down with no outreach, so the practical mainly tests ground bearing capacity, outrigger use and platform controls. A boom lift extends out and up, which is why anchoring a harness inside the basket only becomes a live requirement once outreach can swing the platform against a structure.
What does authorisation mean on this record?
It is tied to the specific equipment tested, not a general licence to operate any aerial platform. A pass on a scissor lift does not extend to a boom lift, and the Matrix Updated field is what pushes that scope into the wider competency matrix other records rely on.
Scope
When is an aerial work platform training required?
This training authorises one class of aerial platform, not elevated work in general. Using it to sign off a different machine, or a different kind of height task, produces a record that does not hold up against the equipment it was actually run on.
Use this template when
- Someone is being authorised on a scissor lift or boom lift for the first time
- A certification cycle is due to expire and the operator needs re-assessment
- An operator changes role or site and needs authorisation confirmed against the equipment set there
- You are running the Equipment and Task Training programme and this is the aerial platform step
- A linked record, such as a permit or an incident review, needs a valid aerial platform authorisation to already exist
Do not use it for
- Overhead Crane Training, which covers boom and lattice crane operation, load charts and signalling rather than platform-based elevated work
- Rigging and Slinging Training, which covers sling selection and load angles for suspended loads, not operating an elevating platform
- Machine Specific Operation Training, which covers a manufacturer's individual model quirks once general aerial platform competency already exists
- Mobile Plant Operator Observation, which is a field observation of ongoing practice rather than the initial authorisation record
- Anything outside KnowTrain, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process
Compliance mapping
Which OSHA 1910.67 requirements does this satisfy?
OSHA 1910.67 sets general industry requirements for vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating platforms, and CSA B354 adds design, inspection and safe-use requirements for mobile elevating work platforms. The mapping below is to the section that actually produces the evidence.
| Clause | Requirement | Where it lands |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA 1910.67(a) | Operator identified and matched to the specific equipment and site before work starts | Header |
| OSHA 1910.67(a) | Ground bearing capacity, slope and overhead clearance assessed before the platform is set up | Theory content |
| OSHA 1910.67(c) | Fall protection worn and anchored inside the basket on boom-type platforms | Practical assessment |
| CSA B354 | Pre-use inspection completed before the platform is put into service | Practical assessment |
| CSA B354 | Outriggers or stabilisers deployed correctly wherever the platform requires them | Practical assessment |
| OSHA 1910.67(a) | Manual or emergency lowering demonstrated from ground level, not just described | Rescue |
| CSA B354 | Theory and practical competency evaluated and documented before authorisation is granted | Knowledge check |
| OSHA 1910.67(a) | Authorisation, certificate and re-certification date recorded and retained | Outcome |
What it does not cover
- Trainer Qualified marked "Subject expert, not trainer trained", which delivers the content but does not meet a certified-trainer basis for authorisation.
- Assessed On Real Equipment marked "Simulator", which demonstrates procedure but not stability judgement on an actual machine.
- Deploys Outriggers Correctly marked "No" on a platform that requires them, which leaves stability unverified regardless of a passing overall result.
- Practical Result "Pass with development points" left with Areas For Improvement blank, which drops the evidence of what still needs supervision.
- Certificate Issued "Yes" with Valid Until left blank, which produces an authorisation with no defined expiry to trigger refresher training.
Global
Aerial Work Platform Training requirements by country
Aerial platform training sits under distinct regimes in these three places, and the differences change what a compliant record actually has to show.
OSHA 1910.67
General industry standard for vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms.
Sets a baseline a federal inspector can cite directly: trained operator, rated capacity respected, fall protection anchored in the basket.
CSA B354
Design, inspection and safe-use standard for mobile elevating work platforms.
Adopted by reference into most provincial occupational health and safety regulation, which is what makes it enforceable on a Canadian site.
EN 280 alongside PUWER 1998 and IPAF-recognised operator training
Splits platform design standard from the operator-competency duty rather than covering both in one instrument.
The machine's design sits in EN 280; the duty to ensure a competent operator sits in PUWER, and it is usually evidenced by an IPAF card rather than an in-house record like this one.
How to complete it
How to complete an aerial work platform training, step by step
None of these fields self-certify. Four judgement calls decide whether this record would survive scrutiny after an incident.
On soft or sloped ground, bearing capacity is assessed by eye and experience. Signing Assesses Ground Conditions off without walking the actual site produces a record that says something happened without defending a tip-over investigation afterwards.
A simulator can verify sequence and procedure, but it cannot reproduce how a platform actually behaves near its stability limit. Treating Assessed On Real Equipment as interchangeable with a genuine machine assessment overstates what was tested.
Deploys Outriggers Correctly and Wears And Anchors Harness In Basket both score the exemption the same as a correct action, so the assessor has to know the specific model's spec sheet rather than guess that a given feature does not apply.
Practical Result allows a pass alongside noted gaps. Nothing in the form forces a follow-up check unless Retraining Required is actually set to Yes, so that field is doing more defensibility work than its position suggests.
What auditors find
Most common aerial work platform training findings
These are the patterns that turn a completed record into a liability rather than evidence, drawn from how the fields on this template actually interact.
| Finding | Clause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Trainer Qualified is recorded as "Subject expert, not trainer trained" while Authorisation Issued is marked Yes. | CSA B354 | Hold authorisation until a certified trainer countersigns, or route the record through a skills assessment before it closes. |
| Assessed On Real Equipment is "Simulator" and Practical Result is "Pass" with no restriction noted. | OSHA 1910.67(c) | Cap the authorisation with a restriction recorded in Restrictions Applied requiring a real-equipment check-ride before unsupervised use. |
| Assesses Ground Conditions or Deploys Outriggers Correctly is marked No, but Overall Result is still Pass. | CSA B354 | Treat a No on either stability field as an automatic Fail on Overall Result rather than something the trainer can average away. |
| Certificate Issued is marked Yes with Valid Until left blank. | OSHA 1910.67(a) | Block certificate issue in the workflow until Valid Until is populated against the certification cycle. |
| Rescue Plan Explained or Ground Rescue Demonstrated is No, yet Authorisation Issued proceeds regardless. | OSHA 1910.67(a) | Make both rescue fields conditions of Authorisation Issued rather than fields that sit alongside it unread. |
| Retraining Required is Yes but Retraining Detail is left blank. | CSA B354 | Require detail text whenever Retraining Required is Yes, so the next trainer knows what specifically to re-test. |
Case in point
Case in point: the ground assessment that never left the yard
An operator passed the practical on flat yard concrete: platform controls smooth, emergency lowering demonstrated, outriggers not needed on that surface. The certificate was issued and the matrix updated. Weeks later the same operator was sent to a site with a sloped laydown area and soft backfill near a trench, conditions the original assessment never tested because the yard never presented them.
The record that should have caught this was Restrictions Applied. A note reading "yard-only assessment, sloped or soft ground not yet verified" would have flagged that the authorisation covered controls and procedure but not the ground judgement the standard is actually built around, and would have forced a site-specific top-up before the assignment went ahead.
The template
The template, field by field
The form exactly as it installs. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it.
6 sections
- Reference
- TRN-047
- Archetype
- Training
- Record ID
- TRN-2026-000
- Scoring
- Theory and practical
- Direction
- High is good
- Singleton
- No
- Basis
- OSHA 1910.67, CSA B354
- Links
- Links Worker, Asset
- Tags
- Training, Height, Mobile equipment
- Sections
- 6
- Fields
- 58
- Follow up fields
- 5
- Repeating sections
- 0
- Links out
- 6
Header
15 fieldsTraining ID*
Auto sequence. Format TRN-2026-00000.
The record's own ID. Other templates point at this value.
Status*
Drives who this goes to next.
- Planned2 pts
- In progress2 pts
- Complete3 pts
- Deferred0 pts
- Open0 pts
- Closed3 pts
- Overdue0 pts
Date and Time*
Delivered By*
Site*
Site ID*
Format SITE-000.
Links to FDN-001 Site ID
Course
Course ID
Format CRS-000.
Links to FDN-007 Course ID
Delivery Method*
Duration Minutes*
Trainer Qualified*
- Yes3 pts
- Subject expert, not trainer trained1 pt
- No0 pts
Worker*
Person ID*
Format PER-0000.
Links to FDN-003 Person ID
Equipment
Asset ID
Format AST-0000.
Links to FDN-002 Asset ID
Theory content
4 fieldsGround Conditions Decide Everything
Checking ground bearing capacity, slope and overhead hazards before setup — the single most common cause of tip-overs.
Fall Protection In The Basket
When a harness and lanyard are required, and where they must be anchored inside a boom versus a scissor lift.
Outriggers And Stability
Deploying outriggers correctly and never operating without them where the machine requires it.
Emergency Lowering
How to bring the platform down manually from ground level if the primary controls fail.
Knowledge check
7 fieldsWhat must be checked about ground conditions before setting up*
- Correct3 pts
- Partly correct1 pt
- Incorrect0 pts
When is fall protection required in the platform, and where is it anchored*
- Correct3 pts
- Partly correct1 pt
- Incorrect0 pts
What happens if outriggers are not deployed correctly*
- Correct3 pts
- Partly correct1 pt
- Incorrect0 pts
How do you lower the platform manually if the controls fail*
- Correct3 pts
- Partly correct1 pt
- Incorrect0 pts
Score Percent*
Pass Mark Percent*
Passed*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Practical assessment
12 fieldsAssessor*
Assessor Qualified*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Assessed On Real Equipment*
- Yes3 pts
- Simulator1 pt
- No0 pts
Completes Pre-Use Inspection*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Assesses Ground Conditions*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Deploys Outriggers Correctly*
- Yes3 pts
- Not required for this platform3 pts
- No0 pts
Wears And Anchors Harness In Basket*
- Yes3 pts
- Not required for this platform3 pts
- No0 pts
Operates Ground Controls*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Operates Platform Controls*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Uses Emergency Lowering*
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Practical Result*
- Pass3 pts
- Pass with development points2 pts
- Fail0 pts
Areas For Improvement
Rescue
3 fieldsRescue Plan Explained*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Ground Rescue Demonstrated*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Rescue Plan ID
Outcome
17 fieldsOverall Result*
- Pass3 pts
- Pass with note2 pts
- Fail0 pts
Retraining Required*
- No3 pts
- Yes1 pt
Retraining Detail
Authorisation Issued*
- Yes3 pts
- Not applicable3 pts
- No0 pts
Authorisation ID
Links to TRN-024 Authorisation ID
Restrictions Applied
Matrix Updated*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Certificate Issued
- Yes3 pts
- Not applicable3 pts
- No0 pts
Valid Until*
Action Required*
Raise the action record, then enter its reference here.
- No2 pts
- Yes0 pts
Priority
- High0 pts
- Medium1 pt
- Low3 pts
CAPA ID
Format CAPA-2026-00000.
Links to FDN-014 CAPA ID
Action Owner
Trainer*
Signature*
Worker*
Second Signature*
TRN-047 · record IDs look like TRN-2026-000 · Links Worker, Asset
Open in KnowellaRun it with agents
From a document you fill in to a programme that runs itself
The form captures a moment. Keeping the authorisation current, matching it to the right machine, and holding the evidence together across a fleet is the work that actually slips.
Holds the aerial platform training library against site and equipment registers, flags authorisations nearing their certification-cycle expiry, and keeps the evidence trail intact.
Surfaces this authorisation against permits and incident records, so a tip-over or near-miss review can check who was actually qualified on that specific platform.
Tracks the scissor and boom lifts themselves, inspection status and defects taken out of service, so a training record never authorises someone onto equipment that should not be running.
Coordinates renewal reminders across the crew, rolls exceptions into one view, and holds every write for your approval before it touches a record.
This template lives in KnowTrain — training and credentials. Induction, competency, toolbox talks, refreshers and expiry tracking.
Meet KnowTrain→Glossary
Aerial Work Platform Training definitions and key terms
- MEWP
- Mobile elevating work platform, the general term CSA B354 uses to cover scissor lifts, boom lifts and similar equipment.
- Boom lift
- An aerial platform on an articulating or telescopic arm that extends outward as well as upward, which is why anchorage inside the basket becomes a live requirement.
- Scissor lift
- An aerial platform that rises vertically on a crossing-brace mechanism with no outward reach, which shifts the practical assessment toward ground and platform control judgement.
- Outriggers
- Extending supports that widen a platform's base and increase stability; some models require them for any elevated work, others do not.
- Anchorage point
- The manufacturer-designated point inside the basket where a harness lanyard must be clipped, distinct from any other structure in reach of the platform.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about aerial work platform training
Does this record cover both scissor lifts and boom lifts on one form?+
Yes, the Equipment field filters to either type, but the practical assessment fields, particularly harness anchorage and outriggers, only apply where the specific machine requires them, so the same template produces different evidence depending on what was actually tested.
What triggers a new aerial work platform training record?+
A new joiner needing initial authorisation, a certification cycle reaching its expiry, or a role or site change that puts someone in front of equipment their current authorisation does not cover.
Can the knowledge check alone authorise someone?+
No. Passed only closes the theory portion; Authorisation Issued and Certificate Issued depend on the practical assessment and outcome sections, which is where the actual machine handling gets verified.
What happens if the assessor is not qualified?+
Assessor Qualified marked No should stop the record from producing a valid authorisation, since the evidence of competency is only as good as the person who judged it.
Why does emergency lowering get its own section?+
Rescue is separated from routine platform operation because it is only exercised in a failure scenario, and a trainer needs to confirm the operator has actually done it once, not just heard it described.
Does a restriction on the authorisation still count as a pass?+
It can. Restrictions Applied lets a trainer issue authorisation with a defined limitation, such as one machine model or one site, rather than forcing a binary pass or fail when the gap is narrow and specific.
Keep going
Related templates and programmes
Industries this is written for
Programmes this belongs to
Used together in Equipment and Task Training
Attachment Use Authorisation
Authorises use of a specific attachment on a specific truck, with the derated capacity stated
Mobile Plant Operator Observation
Observes an operator working, covering speed, load handling, horn use, pedestrian awareness and parking
Competency Matrix
Shows which skills and training each role requires and who currently holds them
Skills Assessment
Assesses whether a worker can actually perform a task to standard, by watching them do it
Forklift Operator Training
Covers forklift operation, stability, load handling, pedestrian awareness and pre-use checks
Reach Truck Training
Covers reach truck operation, high level stacking and stability at height
More in Equipment Training
Forklift Operator Training
Covers forklift operation, stability, load handling, pedestrian awareness and pre-use checks
Reach Truck Training
Covers reach truck operation, high level stacking and stability at height
Pallet Jack Training
Covers safe use of manual and powered pallet jacks, including load control and pedestrian areas
Overhead Crane Training
Covers crane operation, load calculation, rigging basics and signalling
Rigging and Slinging Training
Covers sling selection, load angles, centre of gravity and inspection of lifting gear
Machine Specific Operation Training
Covers safe operation of one specific machine, including setup, running, clearing jams and cleaning
Written and reviewed by
Siddarth Singh
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Knowella
Certified Safety Professional and industrial and systems engineer with more than a decade inside food supply chain, freight and manufacturing operations. This page was written against the current text of the standards it cites, not against secondary summaries of them.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- MS and BS, The Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Six Sigma Black Belt
Sources and last review. Reviewed 16 August 2026 against:
- OSHA 1910.67 — Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms
- OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- CSA B354 — Mobile elevating work platforms
- CSA — Canadian Standards Association
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your jurisdiction’s regulator.