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Approved Code of Practice for Cranes

Part 18: Crane-lifted work platforms

18.1 General

A crane-lifted work platform is the piece of equipment, from which personnel carry out their work, which is either attached to the crane’s hook or the head of the crane’s boom.

Conditions that apply to the use of a crane-lifted work platform:

  1. All platforms shall be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with BS 2573 (50% overload) or a standard that is acceptable to the Department of Labour. The work platform must have the safe working load visibly marked.
  2. The platform is to be fitted with sidewalls or guardrails with midrails and toe-boards, or guardrails with any other suitable barrier such as expanded metal or chain mesh. The sidewalls or guardrails should be of a minimum height of 1 metre and be able to withstand, without obvious deflection, a horizontal force of 440 Newtons or a vertical force of 690 Newtons applied separately in any position.
  3. The floor of the platform shall be slip-resistant and free draining. Electrically insulated platforms need not be free draining, but can be fitted with an insulated insert complying with ANSI 92.2. Insulated buckets should be dried using sponge and bucket before use. Platform gates, where fitted, shall be able to be secured in position and open inwards or slide sideways and be self-closing.
  4. A safe means of access to the platform shall be provided. If access is by means of steps or a fixed ladder, the rise of steps or rungs shall be uniform and shall not exceed 300 mm. The steps or rungs shall be slip-resistant.
  5. Machines designed for specific activities may have different platform and guardrail layouts provided an equivalent level of safety is afforded operators.

Note: Work platforms are to be inspected when first manufactured to ensure compliance with these conditions. This inspection is to be carried out by a chartered professional engineer or an equipment inspector. Subsequent inspections are to be carried out annually and a record kept of these inspections.

  1. All cranes being used as a suspended work platform shall have power lowering capability. Free-fall capability shall be locked out.
  2. If man-riding operations are to be undertaken then no other crane operations are to be carried out.
  3. Where a crane that is to be used has multiple hoist drums and is fitted with a hoist system that allows either hook block to free fall, the hook block not in use shall be removed and the wire rope stowed.
  4. Cranes operating swinging or fixed platforms shall operate at not more than 75% of their safe working load.
  5. All cranes being used with swinging platforms shall have anti-two-block devices fitted, unless they have a fixed hook.
  6. When operating swinging work platforms from the hook, all hook safety latches shall be fully operational.
  7. When a work platform is suspended from a hook, the crane operator shall be in attendance at all times and shall operate the crane within the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  8. The crane operator shall carry out appropriate inspections of equipment daily before use.
  9. Persons working on the platform shall wear the appropriate safety harness, incorporating an energy/shock absorber, at all times suitably attached. In the case of a platform suspended from the hook, all harnesses shall be independently attached to the hook. Where the platform has a roof or cover there shall be a harness anchor point incorporated in the structure under the roof.
  10. Appropriate personal protective equipment shall be worn at all times.
  11. Persons working from the platform shall be able to have appropriate communication with the crane operator at all times.
  12. Truck loader cranes using personnel baskets must have a fixed boom connection between the crane and the basket including the yoke. (The yoke may swing to maintain a vertical position.) The certificate issued will cover the crane and the personnel basket (including personnel basket components) to be used as it was intended.
  13. When operating a swing platform above water, persons in the platform may replace the safety harness and lanyard with an approved life jacket, provided a job-specific assessment has been undertaken taking into account the working environment and the hazards presented in that workplace, e.g. structures, changing water levels, currents and wind.
  14. A plan should be developed for dealing with any emergency.

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