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Personnel Cage being used on Forklifts (Ireland)
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Posted By oneill
Hi All,
Can personnel cages be used on Forklifts? Some people say yes, others say no!!! These would be non intergrated working platforms, simply a cage that sits on forks of lift.
Opinions welcomed.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Dan Lynch
Hi,
Check out the
SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (GENERAL APPLICATION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2001
S.I. No. 188 of 2001
Where it states the following
39. (a) Persons may be lifted only by means of work equipment and accessories provided for this purpose. Exceptionally work equipment not specifically designed for the purpose of lifting persons may be used to this effect provided that appropriate action including adequate supervision has been taken to ensure safety.
(b) While employees are on work equipment designed for lifting loads, the control position shall be manned at all times. Persons being lifted shall have reliable means of communication. In the event of danger, there shall be reliable means of evacuating them.
Regards,
Dan
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By db
I'm not sure what the guidance is on this in Ireland but the guidance from HSE will be good advice even if it may not be enforceable by the enforcers as such.
PUWER says that you should be using the best tool for the job. Generally, the cages can be used for relatively infrequent work at heights. The guidance says where the kit is used on a more frequent basis then a MEWP should be used.
The problem with these things that I have found in the past is that you have to secure them onto the forks (which is sometimes forgotten), the tilt lever has to be locked (and some modern trucks have this fitted but older ones do not) and as suggested above, the biggest problem is that the person in the basket has no control over the machine and can be put at risk of being crushed against surrounding steel etc. The basket has to be checked under LOLER every 6 moinths as does the truck when lifting people.
So they can be used, but really it is better to use a mewp.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By AJM
We have a cage as you talk about which sits on the floor and is used as and when necessary. And as earlier stated an MEWP should be used in preferance but in some factories as ours the cage is the best practicable method and certainly better than step ladders or ladders.
Something else to rememeber aswell as the six monthly LOLER checks is that if like us you have more than one fork truck then one specific fork truck has to be designated and tested accordingly to use whenever cage is required.
Alan
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