Every scissor lift working in Illinois needs an annual inspection — no more than 13 months apart, per ANSI A92 and your machine’s manufacturer requirements. OSHA (29 CFR 1926.453) holds the machine’s owner responsible for keeping it in safe working condition. Miss it, and a down machine is the least of your problems: citations, stopped jobs, and liability if anyone gets hurt.
Win Win Equipment performs annual ANSI/OSHA inspections on Genie, Skyjack, and JLG scissor lifts from our shop in Addison, IL — $225 in-shop, $350 on-site anywhere in Chicagoland. Certificate and documentation filed. Call 773-790-7299 to schedule.
What the rules actually require
Three layers apply to every scissor lift (MEWP) in service:
- Annual inspection — performed no more than 13 months after the last one, by a person qualified on that make and model. This is the one we do.
- Frequent inspection — every 3 months or 150 hours, whichever comes first, and after any period out of service longer than 3 months. Your team or ours.
- Pre-start inspection — the operator’s daily walk-around before each shift. Your operators, every day.
The annual is the one that requires a qualified technician and produces the documentation an OSHA inspector or your insurance carrier will ask for. For the full compliance background, see our ANSI/OSHA inspection guide.
What we inspect
Our annual follows the manufacturer’s inspection checklist for your specific model. The short version of what a qualified tech goes through:
- Structure — scissor stack, welds, pins, platform, rails, and the chassis for cracks or deformation
- Hydraulics — lift cylinder, hoses, fittings, fluid condition, drift test under load
- Electrical & controls — platform and ground controls, e-stops, interlocks, tilt and load-sensing systems
- Batteries & charger — load test, connections, charger cycle
- Drive & brakes — drive function, brake hold on grade, wheel and tire condition
- Safety equipment & decals — guardrails, gates, manuals present, ANSI decals legible and complete
Anything that fails gets documented with photos and a straight answer on what it costs to fix — before any repair work happens.
Pricing — no surprises
- In-shop inspection: $225. Bring it to Addison, or we quote pickup by zip code.
- On-site inspection: $350 anywhere in Chicagoland — we come to your facility or job site.
- Repairs, if needed: $150/hr + parts, quoted before we touch anything. No repair is done without your approval.
Compare that to a national rental chain’s service department — if they’ll even take an outside machine. We inspect Genie, Skyjack, and JLG slab scissors regardless of where you bought them.
How scheduling works
- Call 773-790-7299 with your model and serial number (or just the brand and rough age — we’ll work with what you have).
- Pre-scheduled inspections are done same-day. Drop off in the morning, pick up the same afternoon; on-site visits are scheduled within the week.
- Pass: you get the inspection certificate and documentation for your records — and we log your renewal date.
- Reminder program: we contact you before your next annual is due, so compliance is never a fire drill. No cost, no obligation.
Fleets and facilities
Running more than a couple of machines? We do multi-unit on-site inspection days — one visit, every lift inspected, one set of paperwork for your safety file. For facility managers in Addison, Elk Grove Village, Bensenville, and across the western suburbs, it’s the easiest way to knock out annual compliance in a single morning. Ask about fleet pricing and a standing preventive maintenance program when you call.
What happens if we find problems
An inspection is only useful if it’s honest. If your lift has an issue that makes it fail — a leaking cylinder, a dead interlock, structural damage — we document it, photograph it, and give you a repair quote the same day. Three ways it can go:
- We fix it. $150/hr + parts, approved by you first. Straightforward fixes go back the next day; complex problems get an honest timeline before we start.
- You fix it. Take the documentation to your own tech. No hard feelings.
- It’s not worth fixing. If the repair costs more than the machine is worth, we’ll say so — and show you what a refurbished replacement costs with a fresh inspection already on it.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a scissor lift need to be inspected?
Annually by a qualified technician (no more than 13 months between inspections), every 3 months or 150 hours by a competent person, and daily by the operator. The annual is the one that requires someone qualified on your specific make and model.
How much does a scissor lift inspection cost?
$225 in our Addison shop, $350 on-site anywhere in Chicagoland. Repairs, if any are needed, are quoted separately and approved by you first.
How long does it take?
A few hours for a machine in good condition. Pre-scheduled inspections are completed the same day.
What brands do you inspect?
Genie, Skyjack, and JLG scissor lifts — the same machines we service and refurbish daily. Boom lifts too; call for details.
Do I need the inspection if my lift barely gets used?
Yes. The annual clock runs on the calendar, not the hour meter. A lift that sat for a year still needs its annual before it goes back to work — and batteries that sat usually need attention anyway.
What do I get when it passes?
The completed inspection checklist for your model, a dated certificate, and the decal on the machine. Keep the paperwork in your safety file — that’s what OSHA and your insurer want to see.
Book your inspection
Call 773-790-7299 (Monday–Friday, 7am–3pm) with your model number, or request service online. Same-day certificates on pre-scheduled inspections, and we’ll remind you when next year’s is due.
Also see: Genie service · Skyjack service · JLG service · Scissor lift service hub