When a job requires you to work at extreme heights it is paramount that you find safe ways to perform this work. This is where man baskets or personnel lift platforms come into play. But how do you ensure the man basket you are using is safe? Answer; with a test weight. To ensure the safety of your man basket OSHA requires you to do a trial lift. This is where a test weight provided by the manufacturer of your man basket comes in handy. In this post we will explore what a test weight is and why they are important.
What is a trial lift?
OSHA refers to a trial lift as a test performed by the crew using the man basket prior to hoisting personnel. OSHA requires a trial lift be performed every time the crane moves to a new location. While this may seem like an extreme amount of caution to some, it’s always best to ensure a lift will go smoothly before personnel are lifted. When performing a trial lift ASME regulations state the man basket and test weight only need to be lifted a few inches off the ground. Once the basket has been lifted with the test weight attached it should be held in place for 5 minutes. Your trial lift has now began.
What to watch for
When performing the trial lift it is important to know what to look for. Always have a dedicated, trained safety member inspect the man basket and rigging during the trial lift. This person should be watching for cracks in the steel or welds, tears in the rigging, or imbalance of greater than 10%. If any of these things are noted by the safety inspector do not use the man basket. The inspector should keep a running log of all safety inspections. A certified manufacturer should provide an inspection log along with an operating manual with every personnel cage. These operating manuals and inspection logs are required to be stored in the cage, inside a water proof compartment.
Test weight requirements
OSHA requires a test weight to be 125% of the working capacity of your man basket. This means a man basket with a capacity of 1,000 lbs. must use a test weight weighing at least 1,250 lbs. Test weights must have all weight evenly distributed through the man basket. When weight is not evenly distributed it becomes a challenge to get a proper test. For example one lifting ear or one bridle leg may be doing the brunt of the lift. This is why it is always best to purchase a test weight built specifically for the basket being used. When performing the trial lift, simply attach your test weight and lift the man basket a few inches off the ground. Hold in place for 5 minutes and watch for any instability or points of stress. Perform this task every time the crane moves to a new location.
Why is a test weight important?
When working at extreme heights safety is of the utmost importance. We are potentially talking the difference between life and death circumstances. So, when utilizing man baskets to work at these heights the operator must do everything in their power to ensure a safe lift. Test weights provide peace of mind in a safe lift. Because the test lift is done at 125% of the capacity of the basket personnel can be sure their cage will hold up.
Why a Lakeshore Industrial Test weight?
Test weights are a necessity in ensuring worker safety when using a man basket. Lakeshore Industrial uses a quick pin attach test weight to save you time on the job site and make sure you are 100% compliant in your safety efforts. While some sell test weights and man baskets as a packaged deal, we understand you may already have one from a previous order. By adding the test weight as an option rather than a requirement we can save our customers money.
For these reasons above it is always best to purchase a test weight built specifically for the man basket you purchase. Some may choose to go other routes using heavy equipment or sandbags they have lying around. However doing this makes it difficult to know exactly how much weight you are lifting and even more difficult to evenly distribute the load. In such a dangerous industry, it is always best practice to go the safest route. Contact us to learn more! View the white plate in the image below for an example of a Lakeshore Industrial test weight.