AT5.5 Scissor Lift
- 5.4mMax. working height
- 3.4mMax. platform height
- 250kgLifting capacity
- 400kgMachine weight
One-man personnel lifts: scissor, mast and boom compared
A one man lift carries a single operator to height on the smallest, lightest machine that will do the job. Platfon builds four: one scissor, two mast and one boom type. This guide compares them and covers the safety rules that matter.
PB12 Articulating Boom Lift
- 11.5mMax. working height
- 9.5mMax. platform height
- 200kgLifting capacity
- 4,800kgMachine weight
PM-06 Vertical Mast Lift
- 6.8mMax. working height
- 4.8mMax. platform height
- 227kgLifting capacity
- 980kgMachine weight
PM-08 Vertical Mast Lift
- 8mMax. working height
- 6mMax. platform height
- 160kgLifting capacity
- 1,060kgMachine weight
Compare models
| Model | Max. working height (m) | Max. platform height (m) | Lifting capacity (kg) | Machine weight (kg) | Max. persons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT5.5 Scissor Lift | 5.4 | 3.4 | 250 | 400 | 1 |
| PB12 Articulating Boom Lift | 11.5 | 9.5 | 200 | 4,800 | 1 |
| PM-06 Vertical Mast Lift | 6.8 | 4.8 | 227 | 980 | 1 |
| PM-08 Vertical Mast Lift | 8 | 6 | 160 | 1,060 | 1 |
Four single-person modelsThe AT5.5 scissor, PM-06 and PM-08 mast lifts and PB12 articulating boom are all rated for one person.
5.4 to 11.5 mWorking heights of 5.4 m (17.7 ft), 6.8 m (22.3 ft), 8.0 m (26.2 ft) and 11.5 m (37.7 ft).
From 400 kgThe AT5.5 weighs 400 kg (882 lb); the PB12, with its counterweighted boom, weighs 4,800 kg (10,582 lb).
Never truly aloneOne person at height still needs a trained colleague on the ground who can bring the platform down.
Where a one-person machine makes sense
Plenty of work at height is done by one person: changing a light fitting, checking a sprinkler head, fixing a sensor, pulling cable through a tray or inspecting a ceiling void. Sending a two-person scissor for those tasks means moving more weight, needing more space and often blocking more of the building than necessary.
A single-person machine is lighter, narrower and quicker to position. It is also easier to justify where floors, doors and goods lifts set strict limits, as in offices, hospitals, hotels, retail units and older buildings.
The trade-off is capacity and platform space. Rated loads on Platfon's one-person machines run from 160 kg (353 lb) to 250 kg (551 lb), and that figure always includes the operator.
Personnel lift types compared
Platfon's four single-occupant machines fall into three types. The AT5.5 Scissor Lift is a compact scissor with a rectangular deck. The PM-06 Vertical Mast Lift and the PM-08 Vertical Mast Lift raise a small platform on a very short base. The PB12 Articulating Boom Lift is a boom that can reach up and over obstacles. The table below shows how to choose between them.
- Scissor type: stable deck, lowest weight, lowest height in the group
- Mast type: shortest base, suited to aisles and work tight to walls
- Boom type: up-and-over reach and the most height, but far heavier
- Every type: rated load includes the operator, tools and materials
- Every lift: a trained person stays on the ground throughout
Frequently asked questions
What is a one man lift?
A one man lift, or one-person personnel lift, is a powered work platform rated to carry a single operator plus tools to height. Common types are compact scissor lifts, vertical mast lifts and small booms. Platfon's single-person machines are the AT5.5 scissor with 5.4 m (17.7 ft) working height, the PM-06 and PM-08 mast lifts, and the PB12 articulating boom with 11.5 m (37.7 ft).
What does personnel lift mean?
Personnel lift is a broad term for a machine designed to raise people, as opposed to goods, to a working position. It covers scissor, mast and boom machines and is often used for compact single-person units. A personnel lift must not be used as a goods hoist or crane: its rated load is for the occupant plus the tools and materials needed for the task.
Can one person operate a personnel lift alone?
One person can be the only occupant, but safety guidance and most employers do not allow anyone to work at height on a powered platform with nobody else present. A colleague on the ground, trained in the machine's ground controls and emergency lowering, should be there to bring the platform down if the operator is injured, ill or trapped. Check your employer's rules and the rescue plan for the job.
Do you need a harness in a one-man lift?
It depends on the type. Booms such as the PB12 normally require the operator to wear a full-body harness, clipped with a short restraint lanyard to the anchor point the manufacturer provides. In scissor and vertical mast lifts, the guardrails are the primary protection, and whether a harness is also required depends on the manufacturer's instructions, local regulations and site rules. Never anchor to a guardrail unless the manual designates it.
Which single-person lift is lightest?
In Platfon's range the AT5.5 scissor is lightest at 400 kg (882 lb), followed by the PM-06 at 980 kg (2,161 lb) and the PM-08 at 1,060 kg (2,337 lb). The PB12 boom weighs 4,800 kg (10,582 lb) because its chassis must counterbalance the boom. For upper floors, goods lifts and raised access floors, the lighter scissor and mast machines are usually the practical choice.
How high can a one-person lift reach?
Single-person machines generally cover low to mid heights. Platfon's range runs from 5.4 m (17.7 ft) of working height on the AT5.5 to 11.5 m (37.7 ft) on the PB12 boom, with the PM-06 at 6.8 m (22.3 ft) and the PM-08 at 8.0 m (26.2 ft) in between. Working height is roughly platform height plus 2 m (6.6 ft) for the operator's reach.
Is a one-man lift a replacement for a ladder?
For many repeated or longer tasks, yes. A platform gives guardrails, a stable standing surface and both hands free, and many site rules restrict ladders to short, light work. The decision should come from a risk assessment: a lift needs space, a suitable floor and a trained operator, while a ladder may still be acceptable for brief, low-risk access.
Single-person machines in detail
Scissor type: AT5.5
The AT5.5 lifts one operator and up to 250 kg (551 lb) in total to a 3.4 m (11.2 ft) platform height, for a working height of 5.4 m (17.7 ft). Its 1.28 x 0.63 m deck gives a steady standing area with room for a toolbox.
At 400 kg (882 lb) and 0.76 m (30 in) wide, it is the machine to check first for upper floors, small shops, corridors and lift cars. It also has the highest rated load in this group, which helps when the job involves light fittings or panels as well as tools.
Mast type: PM-06 and PM-08
The mast lifts trade a little capacity for extra height on a base only 1.36 m (4.5 ft) long. The PM-06 offers 6.8 m (22.3 ft) of working height with 227 kg (500 lb); the PM-08 reaches 8.0 m (26.2 ft) with 160 kg (353 lb).
Both work well in aisles, stockrooms and plant rooms, and close against walls and racking. In addition to emergency stop, emergency lowering and overload protection, each lists tilt protection and a motion alarm. Our vertical mast lift overview covers the range in more depth.
Boom type: PB12
When the work sits behind an obstacle, such as pipework above a production line or lights above racking, a vertical machine cannot get close enough. The PB12 reaches 9.5 m (31.2 ft) of platform height and 11.5 m (37.7 ft) of working height for one person and 200 kg (441 lb).
It is heavier and wider, at 4,800 kg (10,582 lb) and 1.27 m (4.2 ft), and lists drive at full height and a foot pedal at the platform controls. The two-person PB16 and PB18 are covered on the articulating boom lifts page.
Working out the load
Rated load is a total, not a passenger allowance. Take an operator of 90 kg (198 lb) with 15 kg (33 lb) of clothing and tool belt, plus a 25 kg (55 lb) box of fittings: that is already 130 kg (287 lb). On a PM-08 rated at 160 kg (353 lb), only 30 kg (66 lb) remains for anything else.
Weigh unusual items, keep loads inside the guardrails and spread them evenly. Never exceed the capacity shown on the machine, even briefly.
Safety for single-occupant work
Train operators for the machine category and familiarize them with the specific model. Complete a pre-use inspection and function test, including the ground controls and emergency stop, before every shift.
Plan the rescue before the first lift: who stays on the ground, where the key is kept and how emergency lowering works on that machine. For booms, our guide to emergency lowering explains the principles; for scissor machines, the scissor lift operating guide covers daily checks.
When one person is not enough
If the task needs two people, heavier materials or more deck space, a two-person machine is the safer choice. The compact lifts page includes the PS06N and PS-08 with 7.8 m (25.6 ft) of working height, and the aerial work platform overview shows every Platfon family.
Find the right single-person lift
Describe the task, the working height, the access width and what the operator needs to carry. You will get a single-person model proposal and a quote in return.