Legislation and good practice
Plain-language explanations of what the law requires from anyone using work equipment in Portugal, and how to comply without fuss.
Featured guide
19 September 2026 · 8 min read
Anyone using aerial work platforms, forklifts, cranes or other work equipment in Portugal is required by law to have them checked periodically by a competent person, with a written report. We explain what Decree-Law 50/2005 says, how often, who can inspect and the most common mistakes.
More guides
28 October 2026 · 8 min read
How an aerial work platform's hydraulic system works, which signs point to a problem, what maintenance to do and how to repair it safely.
Read the guide28 October 2026 · 8 min read
How much wind an aerial work platform can take, how to measure it, the Beaufort scale, which JLG machines suit indoor and outdoor work and what to do when the wind picks up.
Read the guide27 October 2026 · 12 min read
On 20 January 2027, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 replaces the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. We explain what changes: higher-risk machinery and notified bodies, digital instructions and declarations of conformity, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, substantial modifications, importers and distributors, and what it means for anyone buying new or used aerial work platforms.
Read the guide27 October 2026 · 13 min read
Kerbs, ditches, sidewalks, cycle paths, barriers, bridge parapets, canals and special profiles: what a slipform machine does, using the Power Curber 5700-D as the example. Widths, heights, radii, guidance, moulds, transport and limits, based on the manufacturer's documentation.
Read the guide26 October 2026 · 9 min read
The right oil, kept clean and changed on time, protects pumps, motors and cylinders. We explain the types of lubricant, why oils should not be mixed and what to do when the oil is contaminated.
Read the guide25 October 2026 · 6 min read
Spider lifts go where other platforms can't: narrow doors, gardens, churches and delicate floors. We explain when one makes sense, how the outriggers work and how to choose between JLG's two spider lifts, the X17JP and the X20JP.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 7 min read
Batteries are the most expensive part to look after on an electric platform. We explain the differences between lead-acid, AGM and lithium, how to charge without damaging them and a simple maintenance plan.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 7 min read
The IPAF PAL card is the international operator licence for mobile elevating work platforms. Portuguese law does not require it, but many sites and most employers abroad ask for it. We explain the categories, where to train (8 centres in Portugal), the cost, how long it takes (one day for two categories) and how to renew after 5 years.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 6 min read
JLG ES electric scissor for smooth concrete floors, or ERT/RT rough-terrain scissor for site work? We compare the current models (CE specification) and give you 8 questions to choose right first time.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 8 min read
There are free forklift, aerial platform, crane and excavator courses at IEFP, CICCOPN and training providers funded by Pessoas 2030. They are longer (25–100 hours) with fixed dates, but give a qualifications certificate and, for unemployed people, a grant and meal allowance. We explain where to look, who can join, the 2026 support and when the employer has to pay.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 24 min read
Country-by-country guide to importing construction machinery into Portugal: customs and anti-dumping duties, import VAT and reverse charge, broker, CE marking, Stage V engine, registration and a real worked example. Covers aerial platforms, telehandlers, forklifts, excavators and scaffolding from the EU, UK, China and US.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 8 min read
In Lisbon, scaffolding on the pavement or road needs a street-occupation permit from the city council, applied for online 20 working days ahead, or just a notice 5 days before for conservation works. We cover each case, the documents, the 2026 fee (about €440–545 for a 25 m façade for a month, €0 for conservation), traffic, EMEL parking and fines.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 8 min read
In Porto, scaffolding on the pavement or road needs a permit to occupy public space for works, applied for on the Portal do Munícipe at least 20 working days ahead. We cover who applies, the documents, the rules for tunnel scaffolds, the fee (about €1,065 for one month on a 25 m, four-storey façade, or €213 with the 80% discount), traffic and fines.
Read the guide24 October 2026 · 21 min read
A practical guide to hiring a heavy machinery haulier in Portugal: which trailer fits, when a Special Traffic Authorisation and pilot car are needed, which licences the company must hold, what it usually costs and how shipping to Madeira and the Azores works, with sailings, sea times, VAT and insurance.
Read the guide20 October 2026 · 11 min read
Portugal has no official excavator licence: the law requires a "properly qualified" operator, proven with a training certificate. We explain which course to take for excavators, mini excavators, backhoe loaders and wheel loaders, how much it costs (€100 to €200 for most), how long it takes (8 to 16 hours) and which driving licence you need on the road.
Read the guide20 October 2026 · 11 min read
What Portuguese law says in 2026 about marked (green) diesel: which construction machines and aerial work platforms can and cannot use it, when it is allowed in farming and forestry, the new rule for quarries, how it is bought with the card, the fines and real court cases.
Read the guide17 October 2026 · 16 min read
The checklist to run through before going up on an electric scissor lift (JLG ES, Genie GS, Haulotte Compact, Skyjack and equivalents): paperwork and people, the walk-around, the function test from the ground and the platform, the ground, what is overhead, power lines and wind, the rules up top, what to do in an emergency and the end of the day.
Read the guide17 October 2026 · 11 min read
How to choose between a diesel, electric or hybrid aerial work platform: the five questions that decide it, the law on exhaust fumes indoors, ground and slopes, battery runtime and charging, the energy cost of a working day, noise and working hours, and example jobs with the recommended power source.
Read the guide17 October 2026 · 10 min read
When to choose an electric scissor lift and when a vertical mast lift (JLG 1230ES, Genie GR, Haulotte Star, Toucan): side-by-side comparison with CE spec sheets, the right pick for 13 types of job, six questions to decide, floor and weight, doors and lifts, outdoors and wind, rental prices, IPAF card and harness.
Read the guide16 October 2026 · 17 min read
Leasing, bank loan, renting, manufacturer finance, cash or carrying on renting: we compare the cash out on day one, the monthly payment, stamp duty, VAT and the 5-year total cost of a JLG 450AJ, the rates banks charge in 2026, taxes and public support, and how many days a year make buying pay.
Read the guide12 October 2026 · 8 min read
Renting an aerial work platform costs €45 to €75 a day for an electric scissor lift, €100 to €220 for a 16 to 20 m diesel boom and €230 to €320 above 26 m, VAT included and transport excluded. We gather the tariffs published in Portugal by type and height, per day, week and month, what is left out (transport, diesel, deposit, excess), four complete quotes and the rent-or-buy sums.
Read the guide12 October 2026 · 11 min read
The law only requires two insurances: workers' compensation and motor liability for machines that go on the road. We explain what the law says, what plant insurance and general liability cover and exclude, what municipalities and IMPIC ask for, who pays when a rented machine is damaged or stolen, and the fines for being uninsured.
Read the guide12 October 2026 · 12 min read
No Portuguese law sets the height at which work becomes "work at height": the 2 metres comes from Spain and Brazil. What the law requires is to assess the risk at any height and prioritise collective protection. We explain the numbers that do exist (scaffolding above 4 m, guard-rails at 0.90 and 1 m, baskets at 1.10 m), when a harness is mandatory and what must come with it, the rules for platforms, scaffolds, ladders and roofs, training, accident figures in Portugal and the fines.
Read the guide8 October 2026 · 6 min read
Portugal has no official forklift licence: the law requires a "properly qualified" operator, proven with a training certificate. We explain what the law says, which course to take for forklifts, telehandlers, aerial platforms, cranes and earthmoving machines, how much it costs (€120 to €180 for most) and how long it takes (8 to 12 hours).
Read the guide2 October 2026 · 6 min read
Work out the street-occupation fee for your scaffolding in 31 Portuguese municipalities: it ranges from under €50 to over €1,000 a month. With a calculator, each municipality's formula, the exemptions for conservation works and a comparison table from Lisbon and Porto to Funchal.
Read the guide11 October 2026 · 9 min read
To put scaffolding on the pavement or the road you need a public-space occupation permit (OVP) from the municipality, requested 15 to 20 working days in advance. We explain how to apply, which documents to attach, what it costs in Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Cascais, Almada and Setúbal, and when no permit is needed.
Read the guide22 September 2026 · 8 min read
"Scaffolding" covers six quite different systems, each with its own prices, lead times and assembly rules. We explain each type, what job it suits, how high it goes, who can put it up and what the law requires, and help you decide between scaffolding and an aerial platform.
Read the guide22 September 2026 · 9 min read
There are seven main families of aerial work platforms, and picking the wrong one is expensive: either the machine cannot reach where you need it, or you pay for one that is far too big. We explain each type, how high it goes, where it works well and where it does not, and give you a quick guide to choosing before you ask for a quote.
Read the guide20 September 2026 · 13 min read
A used aerial work platform can be an excellent deal or an expensive problem. We explain the five documents the seller must hand over, what the ID plate and EN 280 tell you about the machine, how to read the hours, what to check system by system and the warning signs. With a printable checklist.
Read the guide20 September 2026 · 12 min read
Almost every aerial platform breakdown announces itself weeks in advance: a battery losing range, a sweating hose, a hesitant joystick. This guide gives you the maintenance calendar manufacturers require (daily, 3 months or 150 hours, annual), the most common faults by system, the part that usually fixes them, and what a stopped machine really costs.
Read the guideAerial platforms, forklifts, cranes and other work equipment must be checked periodically by a competent person, with a written report (Decree-Law 50/2005). We carry out that inspection and handle the necessary repairs.
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