Man cage legality

[B R C]

My neighbour had his lifting gear inspection the other day, the inspector who really seemed to know the regs etc Said to them that they shouldn’t use man cage for any planned work. Only for unplanned like clearing a gutter in a storm. Is this right, machine in question brand new 7m manitou, seem to remember reading that it is allowed on 6m but not on higher machines?

 

[davidroberts30]

yes correct

just make sure all your jobs are un planned

 

[Cowcalf]

its usually the last metre of the fall that causes the problem

 

[Barleycorn]

Keep up, PERSON cage!!

 

[Phil P]

My neighbour had his lifting gear inspection the other day, the inspector who really seemed to know the regs etc Said to them that they shouldn’t use man cage for any planned work. Only for unplanned like clearing a gutter in a storm. Is this right, machine in question brand new 7m manitou, seem to remember reading that it is allowed on 6m but not on higher machines?

Yes this is correct, planned work should use appropriate scaffolding or a cherry picker etc.

 

[Tarw Coch]

machine in question brand new 7m manitou, seem to remember reading that it is allowed on 6m but not on higher machines?

From memory it needs to be an under 7m machine and the 7 series manitou are actually 6.9m lift.

 

[milkloss]

The lifting machine must also have a tilt/crowd lock out.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Yes this is correct, planned work should use appropriate scaffolding or a cherry picker etc.

It seems like every shed builder out there uses a cage on the front of a handler and plenty of them posting pictures of their work in progress on Facebook too.
It certainly looks far safer than the shed building I remember from my youth when such things weren’t heard of, and steel erectors walked the beams.
Working out of a cage seems quite sensible/safe to me but I’m just a simple farmer who looks for simple and practical ways to reduce risk, HSE will look to eliminate all risk, practically regardless of cost or inconvenience.

 

[Nearly]

They're illegal in many circumstances. So is a grain bucket or a pallet.
I know which I'd rather be in or be operating with someone else in!

 

[Phil P]

It seems like every shed builder out there uses a cage on the front of a handler and plenty of them posting pictures of their work in progress on Facebook too.
It certainly looks far safer than the shed building I remember from my youth when such things weren’t heard of, and steel erectors walked the beams.
Working out of a cage seems quite sensible/safe to me but I’m just a simple farmer who looks for simple and practical ways to reduce risk, HSE will look to eliminate all risk, practically regardless of cost or inconvenience.

I’m not just sure on the technicalities with shed builders but would there handlers not be classed as a mobile crane rather than an agricultural machine? Don’t know if that makes any different or not? They could just be flaunting the rules like the rest of us .
I know I’ve done some quotes for a job at the airport and one of the stipulations is I can’t use a man basket to do the work as it would e planned. Of course there’s no getting around it been planned as full risk assessments and work permits etc have to be submitted!

 

[ACEngineering]

I’m not just sure on the technicalities with shed builders but would there handlers not be classed as a mobile crane rather than an agricultural machine? Don’t know if that makes any different or not? They could just be flaunting the rules like the rest of us .
I know I’ve done some quotes for a job at the airport and one of the stipulations is I can’t use a man basket to do the work as it would e planned. Of course there’s no getting around it been planned as full risk assessments and work permits etc have to be submitted!

Just say the machine you had planned to use broke down so you had to improvise

 

[deleted user 837354]

It is ridiculous. So a farm with a perfectly serviceable telehandler and man basket is supposed to hire in a cherry picker which is a totally different machine and quite probably totally unknown to any of the operators on the farm? I know which I would rather be at the controls of.

 

[B R C]

I think that is the main point, that on a telehandler the person in the basket is not in control whereas on a cherry picker you are.

 

[7610 super q]

Sigh.


Might just as well use a trampoline.

 

[Tarw Coch]

I think that is the main point, that on a telehandler the person in the basket is not in control whereas on a cherry picker you are.

I must admit I wouldn’t want to be in a man basket with someone I didn’t know or trust at the wheel.
However they are undoubtedly in my mind far safer than some of the things I’ve seen done over the years and I think there is a danger that by criticising their use it may mean that some will use less safe methods. If using a man basket for the handler is still illegal, what’s the point in spending money buying one, might as well just use the bucket.
To that end I think HSE guidance on their use may be counter productive

 

[milkloss]

Basically it makes it a ball ache to clean gutters, change light bulbs etc because you can't use a man cage to do it. Light bulbs and gutters should be cleaned/maintained annually (yes, change the bulbs even if they are working) and so are/could be planned. Hiring a cherry picker type thing is out unless you have a ticket for such a thing.....


So I just hop in the bucket...... everything else is illegal anyway! It's quicker and bigger than the cage anyhoo's.

 

[cb387]

Can you (legally) just go and hire a cherry picker or do you have to go on a course and get a bit of paper for that as well?

 

[roscoe erf]

f**k it back to ladders

 

[Yale]

It gets to a point when there are that many regs you just ignore them all.

 

[7610 super q]

fudge it back to ladders

Yes, probably the most dangerous method of working at height, yet still legal.