In the construction world where everything is extremely competitive it is all about who can win the bid. When pricing tends to be similar for any product that a construction company may need to purchase for a specific job it all comes down to who can be the most efficient and productive in their work. A Man basket is the perfect asset for increasing efficiency.
Man basket regulations
Man baskets are steel cages meant to lift personnel to heights that are otherwise inaccessible. When built properly, man baskets are built to stringent OSHA standards. Perhaps the most important of these standards, is the platforms are tested by the manufacturer at 200% of their rated capacity. By testing the man basket much higher than it’s rated for the manufacturer can ensure their product leaves the facility ready to lift personnel to extreme heights.
Other Specifications
A man basket should also come equipped with guardrails, safety lanyard tie offs, a lockable gate, be wind resistant, and be built by a certified welder. The top guardrail of a man basket must be located 42″ from the floor to the top of the guardrail. By following this regulation manufacturers are able to keep the user from potentially falling. An OSHA certified crane man basket should even go a step further in keeping personnel from falling by installing safety lanyard tie offs. It is required by OSHA that any person operating in a man basket wear a safety vest with safety lanyards.
One area where some manufacturers fail to meet OSHA regulations are with wind resistance. Crane man baskets are required to withstand wind of 20 mph, any more than that and you should withstand from using the basket at all. Lakeshore Industrial provides the most wind resistant baskets on the market. Some other manufacturers may use solid steel enclosures but Lakeshore Industrial uses expanded metal which is much more wind resistant.
Man Basket Rigging
Now, let’s talk rigging. In the U.S. OSHA states man baskets should be lifted by a tear and rotation resistant system. At Lakeshore Industrial like to use a wire rope bridle assembly for this. OSHA also states bridle assemblies should be capable of supporting 5x the total amount lifted. In some parts of Canada this number is actually 10x, meaning a 2,000 lbs. lift needs a bridle rated for 20,000 lbs. There are two factors that determine the strength of a bridle, the length and the thickness of the legs.
How do man baskets help?
- By utilizing a man basket, you can avoid spending countless hours setting up scaffolding or other inefficient methods.
- Because man baskets are built to such stringent safety standards, you’re able to ensure that your workers remain safe on the job.
- Reach extreme heights that are otherwise not possible with other methods.
Why a Lakeshore Industrial basket?
When a company is tasked with performing work at extreme heights they need to rely on a safe solution. Our man basket platforms are backed by an industry leading three year warranty. We do this because we want to ensure our customers feel 100% safe when working at extreme height. Our products are 100% OSHA and ASME compliant with industry leading quality. We now also offer a free welded on toolbox on all personnel lift cages. We believe this gives our cages a distinct advantage in usability and working efficiency over our competitors.
In conclusion, by purchasing a Lakeshore Industrial custom cage man basket you will win more bids by being efficient with your time, while at the same time keeping your workers safe while they work at dangerous heights. Check out our extensive line of Man Baskets here.
