A work platform for a personnel lift includes a floor structure, a safety rail coupled with the floor structure and defining a personnel work area, and a control panel area. A protection envelope surrounds the control panel area and enhances protection for an operator from an obstruction or structure that may constitute a crushing hazard. In one arrangement, the protection envelope includes protection bars on either side of the control panel area extending above the safety rail relative to the floor structure. In another arrangement, the protection envelope includes a platform switch that is configured to trip upon an application of a predetermined force.