Canadian Standards Association · CSA Z150
Personnel Lifting Requirements
Clause 6.4.8 — Standards regarding crane suspended and pinned personnel platforms
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6.4.8.1 General
6.4.8.2.1 Platform — General
6.4.8.2.2 Suspended Platforms
6.4.8.2.3 Pinned Platforms
6.4.8.2.4 Motion Control Platforms
6.4.8.3.1 Crane — General
6.4.8.3.2 Crane — Suspended
6.4.8.3.3 Crane — Pinned
6.4.8.3.4 Crane — Motion Control
6.4.8.4 Fall Arrest System
6.4.8.5.1 Setup & Operation
6.4.8.5.2 Trial Lift
6.4.8.5.3 Pinned + Motion Control
6.4.8.1
General
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Mobile cranes are typically designed and intended for hoisting materials rather than lifting personnel. The following measures shall be taken to adequately safeguard personnel who are lifted by a crane:
- a)The person specifically responsible for the overall work function shall determine that there is no practical alternative way to perform the needed work or gain access to the area, and shall authorize the personnel lift.
- b)A pre-lift meeting shall be conducted to ensure every worker involved receives adequate instructions about the requirements, restrictions, and hazards associated with the hoisting operation.
- c)The crane manufacturer’s applicable instructions shall be followed.
- d)The crane shall not travel while personnel are on the platform.
- e)The crane shall not be used for other purposes while personnel are on the platform.
- f)Personnel lifting shall not take place when wind speeds exceed 25 km/h (16 mph), or during electrical storms, snow, ice, sleet, or other adverse weather conditions.
- g)An adequate means of reliable communication between the worker on the platform and the crane operator (per Clause 6.5) shall be established, maintained, and used.
- h)Sufficient lighting for the job shall be provided.
- i)Adequate means of evacuation or rescue procedures, including procedures for work in remote locations, shall be established and communicated in writing to all workers. Single-part or two-part line should be used.
The requirements for procedures and equipment that apply to personnel lifting can vary according to the authority having jurisdiction.
6.4.8.2.1
Platform Requirements — General
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A suspended or pinned platform that carries personnel shall meet all of the following requirements:
- a)Be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least 5× the rated load of the platform.
- b)Have a minimum rated load of 136 kg (300 lb).
- c)Be designed and approved by an engineer, in accordance with good engineering practice.
- d)Have design drawings that set out the size and specifications of all components, including type and grade of materials, rated load, and instructions for proper maintenance and inspection.
- e)Be constructed and maintained in accordance with the design drawings.
- f)Have all weldments conforming to CSA W59 or AWS D14.3/D14.3M.
- g)Have its weight and rated load conspicuously posted on a plate or by other permanent marking.
- h)Be modified or repaired in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications or as directed by an engineer.
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Guardrail protection consisting of a top rail, intermediate rail, and toe board:
- —Top rail: not less than 990 mm (39 in) and not more than 1140 mm (45 in) from platform floor.
- —Intermediate rail: at equal distance between the toe board and top rail.
- —Toe board: around the periphery, minimum 90 mm (3.5 in) in height.
- —Each rail/barrier shall withstand a concentrated load of 1340 N (300 lbf) at any point in any direction.
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Tools and materials may be carried, provided:
- i)A lower barrier is provided to prevent material from falling from the platform.
- ii)The lower barrier spans between the toe board and intermediate rail and is of solid construction or expanded metal. Platform not to be used solely for bulk material transport.
- k)Have flooring with a slip-resistant surface, with provision to allow free drainage of liquids.
6.4.8.2.2
Additional Requirements — Suspended Platforms
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In addition to Clause 6.4.8.2.1, a suspended platform that a worker is using shall:
- a)Be equipped with a secondary means of suspension or support, secured above the hook. The secondary support shall not impede the hoist line, travelling block, or compromise their structural competence.
- b)Have all wire rope, shackles, rings, master links, and rigging hardware capable of supporting without failure at least 10× the maximum intended load. Applies to both primary and secondary support components.
- c)Have bridles and associated rigging identified and used only for lifting or lowering workers.
- d)Synthetic slings and slings utilizing wire rope clips shall not be used as part of the suspension system.
- e)Be designed, constructed, and maintained so that the failure of one means of support will not cause collapse of all or part of the platform.
- f)Have all eyes in wire-rope slings fabricated with a Flemish eye, complete with thimble and mechanical splice.
- g)Have a continuous hand or grab rail inside the perimeter of the suspended platform.
- h)Have means of securing loose items within the platform.
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If built with an access gate:
- i)Equipped with a device to restrain the gate from accidental opening.
- ii)Gate shall be configured to swing into the platform. If too small, the gate may swing outward.
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Equipped with anchorages for personal fall protection:
- i)Number of anchorages shall equal or exceed the number of rated occupants.
- ii)More than one occupant may attach to a single anchorage if rated and identified for more than one person.
- iii)Each anchorage shall withstand a static force of 16,000 N (3,600 lbf) per person without reaching ultimate strength.
6.4.8.2.3
Additional Requirements — Pinned Platforms
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In addition to Clause 6.4.8.2.1, a pinned platform that a worker is using shall:
- a)Have a design safety factor of 2 for yield strength (ductile materials) or 5 based on ultimate strength (brittle materials). Dynamic loading shall be included where applicable.
- b)Be inspected and load tested with 100% rated load following structural repairs and modifications.
- c)Be equipped with means that maintains the platform level and guards against overturning.
6.4.8.2.4
Pinned Platforms with Motion Control — Requirements
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Motion controls on a pinned platform shall meet the following requirements:
- a)Be clearly identified as to its function.
- b)Be clearly marked to indicate the direction of movement and, if possible, be oriented to move in the same direction as the platform when actuated.
- c)Be inside the platform and readily accessible to the platform operator.
- d)Be protected from inadvertent actuation.
- e)Return to neutral position and stop all motion when released.
- f)Include an emergency stop control that does not require continuous actuation for a stop condition.
6.4.8.3.1
Crane Requirements — General
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These requirements apply to ALL cranes used with either suspended or pinned platforms for personnel lifting.
- a)Be downrated to 50% of its rated capacity.
- b)Have a boom equipped with fail-safe systems and devices to prevent the boom from freefalling or unintentional lowering or retracting.
6.4.8.3.2
Additional Crane Requirements — Suspended Platforms
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In addition to Clause 6.4.8.3.1, a crane used with a suspended platform shall:
- a)Be equipped with an anti-two-blocking device as defined in Clause 4.3.5.
- b)Have hoist line hooks equipped with positive-locking catches, or other means of preventing the platform from accidentally detaching from the hook.
- c)Have hoist lines capable of supporting at least 10× the maximum load or force to which they are likely to be subjected.
- d)If equipped with a secondary hoist line, have it removed or positioned so it will not tangle or endanger workers on the platform.
- e)Use only winches with power-down capabilities for suspending personnel platforms.
6.4.8.3.3
Additional Crane Requirements — Pinned Platforms
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In addition to Clause 6.4.8.3.1, a crane used with a pinned platform shall:
- a)Be equipped with means to maintain the platform level and protect against overturning.
- b)When hoisting workers, have the hoist line removed from the boom sheave or positioned so it will not endanger workers or interfere with crane operation.
- c)Each anchorage shall withstand a static force of 16,000 N (3,600 lbf) per person without reaching ultimate strength.
6.4.8.3.4
Crane Requirements — Pinned Platforms with Motion Control
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Mobile cranes with pinned platforms equipped with motion control shall:
- —Have a motion control at ground level that can override the platform control.
6.4.8.4
Fall Arrest System Requirements
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All workers on the platform shall wear a fall arrest system meeting every requirement listed below.
- a)The system shall allow the worker to move around the platform and provide a minimum of lanyard slack.
- b)The system shall be connected to the platform anchorage in accordance with the platform’s instructions.
- c)The system shall include a full body harness and a lanyard equipped with a personal energy absorber or self-retracting lanyard.
- d)The system shall not subject the worker to a peak force exceeding 6 kN (1,350 lbf).
- e)Full body harnesses shall meet CSA Z259.10.
- f)Lanyards and energy absorbers shall meet CSA Z259.11.
- g)Self-retracting lanyards shall meet CAN/CSA-Z259.2.2.
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Platforms shall be equipped with anchorages located on the boom or on a fixed support attached to the boom:
- i)Number of anchorages shall equal or exceed the number of rated occupants.
- ii)More than one occupant may attach to a single anchorage if rated accordingly per CSA Z259.16.
- iii)Each anchorage shall withstand a minimum factored static force of 16,000 N (3,600 lbf) per person without reaching ultimate strength.
- iv)Anchorages for pinned platforms shall be located on the boom or on a fixed support attached to the boom.
6.4.8.5.1
Setup and Operation — General
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The following requirements shall be met when lifting personnel in suspended or pinned platforms:
- a)The crane shall have its structural elements inspected by a competent person before each use.
- b)The crane shall be levelled as specified by the manufacturer and located on firm footing. Cranes with outriggers shall have them deployed per manufacturer’s specifications.
- c)A trial lift shall be performed in accordance with Clause 6.4.8.5.2.
- d)The crane operator shall remain at the crane controls at all times when the platform is occupied and in an elevated position.
6.4.8.5.2
Trial Lift
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All trial lift tests shall be performed with the platform loaded to its maximum rated load without people in the basket.
A trial lift shall be performed to verify the integrity of rigging and the personnel platform, and to ensure all systems, controls, crane setup, lift routes, and safety devices are functioning properly.
- a) Primary Support Verification: The platform shall be lifted 1 m (40 in) off the ground to verify the integrity of the primary support. This test shall be performed each time the platform is attached or reattached to the crane.
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b)
Work Location Verification: The platform shall be lifted to all work locations to verify lift routes and that each location can be reached using a maximum of 50% of the crane’s rated capacity. This test shall be performed at each location and for each lift route.
- —If the operator’s view of the lift route is obscured, capacity may be verified by placing the platform in a quadrant of equal or lesser crane capacity at an equal or greater distance from the crane.
6.4.8.5.3
Pinned Platforms with Motion Control — Operation
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- —Initial positioning of the personnel platform shall be performed by the crane operator.
- —Motion control in the personnel platform shall only be used for final positioning of the personnel platform.