Man Riding Basket Inspection As Per BS EN 14502-1

Safety requirements for man riding basket

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A man riding basket is one of the most commonly used suspended lifting accessories in construction, offshore platforms, and industrial sites. Because it carries personnel at height, strict design and inspection requirements must be followed to ensure safe operation.

This guide summarizes the mandatory safety requirements, design elements, and inspection criteria for man riding baskets according to British Standard BS EN 14502-1 and the pad eye requirements of BS EN 10855-1.

Man riding basket parts

Man riding basket requirements:

1. General Requirements (BS EN 14502-1)

A compliant man riding basket must meet the following minimum requirements:

1.1 Material & Construction

• The basket must be manufactured from incombustible material.
• The structure must be protected against corrosion.

1.2 Internal Height

• The free-standing height inside the basket where persons stand must be at least 2 meters.

1.3 Roof Requirements

• If there is a risk of falling objects, the basket must include a protective roof.
• Any opening in the roof must be small enough to prevent a 20 mm sphere from passing through.
• The roof must withstand the impact of a 7 kg steel ball dropped from 2 meters without plastic deformation exceeding 50 mm.

1.4 Rated Capacity Calculations

When calculating the working load limit (WLL), assume:

• 80 kg body weight per person, plus
• 40 kg equipment per person

This ensures sufficient safety margin for personnel and tools.

Load lifting attachments:

2. Load Lifting Attachments

2.1 Sling / Chain Requirements

The man basket must be attached to the crane hook using:

• Chains (EN 818-4) or
• Steel wire ropes (EN 13414-1)

Minimum safety factors:

• Chains: 8 × (basket weight + rated capacity)
• Wire ropes: 10 × (basket weight + rated capacity)

2.2 Attachment Security

• Lifting attachments must only be removable with tools (to prevent accidental detachment).

2.3 Hook-to-Floor Clearance

• When suspended, the distance between the basket floor and crane hook must be ≥ 3 meters.

• Wire rope grips are NOT allowed as end terminations.

3. Floor Requirements

• The floor must be slip-resistant.
• Adequate drainage must be provided.
• Enough free foot space must exist at the external edges to prevent crushing hazards.
• Any openings in the floor must not allow a 20 mm sphere to pass through.

• Floor area must be:

• 0.6 m × 0.6 m for the first person
• +0.4 m × 0.4 m for each additional person

4. Inclination, Access/Exit & Anchorage Points

4.1 Tilt Stability

• When 1.5 × rated capacity is applied in the worst possible position, the basket inclination must not exceed 20°.

4.2 Access and Exit

• Entry and exit must comply with EN 13586 (Type 1).
• Doors and gates:
• Must not open outward
• Must have an automatic catch/lock to prevent accidental opening

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

4.3 Anchorage Points

• Anchorage points for PPE must comply with EN 795.

5. Side Protection Requirements

The basket sides must include:

5.1 Enclosure

• Enclosed to a height of at least 0.5 m, preventing a 20 mm sphere from passing.

5.2 Guard Rails

• A guard rail must be installed at the top of the enclosure.
• If this guard rail is below 1 meter, a second rail must be added at 1 meter above the floor.

5.3 Handrails

• Diameter: 16–40 mm

• Positioning to prevent hand injuries:

  0.075–0.1 m inside the side enclosure
• 0.075–0.1 m above the top edge of the side wall

6. Lifting Pad-Eye Requirements (BS EN 10855-1)

6.1 Pad Eye Dimensions

• Hole diameter: must be within 6% of the shackle pin diameter.
• Thickness: must be at least 75% of the shackle jaw width.

6.2 Proof Load Tests

Man basket pad eyes must undergo the following proof load tests:

• 2.5 × Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) applied to four (4) lifting points
• 1.5 × MGW applied to two (2) lifting points

7. Required Markings (Name Plate)

Every man riding basket must be permanently marked with:

• Manufacturer name
• Model and serial number / ID
• Year of manufacture
• Tare weight
• Safe Working Load (SWL) + number of persons allowed
• Maximum Gross Weight (MGW)
• Other relevant safety information

8. Conclusion

Man riding baskets must follow strict safety and engineering requirements to ensure the protection of personnel during lifting operations. Compliance with BS EN 14502-1 and BS EN 10855-1 ensures the basket is designed, tested, and used safely on job sites.

If you need the complete inspection checklist or the PowerPoint presentation, it is available for purchase.

You can buy the PPT presentation