🪜 Access Platforms & Scaffolding
Man Basket (Personnel Basket) Inspection & Certification in Saudi Arabia
A man basket, or personnel basket, is a fabricated platform suspended from a crane hook to place workers where a MEWP or scaffold cannot reach, such as pipe racks, flare stacks, chimneys and steelwork. In Saudi Arabia it is typically used on industrial and shutdown work where alternatives are not practical, and many clients restrict personnel lifting heavily. The basket, its rigging and the host crane form one safety system, so third-party inspection, proof loading and a documented trial lift are normally required.
What we inspect on a man basket (personnel basket)
- ✓Basket frame, floor, welds and bridle attachment points for cracks, distortion and corrosion
- ✓Guardrail height, mid-rail, toe board and enclosure mesh, plus the entry gate or door and its latch
- ✓Overhead protection where falling objects are possible, and any restriction on the materials carried
- ✓Four-leg bridle or sling set, master link, shackles and the crane hook with its latch, for wear and damage
- ✓Capacity plate showing the basket weight, rated load, number of occupants and identification mark
- ✓Internal anchor points for fall-protection lanyards and their rating
- ✓Records of previous proof tests, rigging inspections and any welding or repair documentation
- ✓Compatibility with the host crane: capacity at radius, anti-two-block device and hoist control (power up and down, no free-fall)
Common defects we find
- ✓Cracked welds or deformed frame members after earlier overloading or impact
- ✓Worn, bent or non-compliant master links, shackles or slings in the bridle
- ✓Inadequate guardrail height, damaged gates or missing toe boards
- ✓No legible capacity plate, or a marked capacity inconsistent with the number of occupants
- ✓A basket used on a crane without anti-two-block protection or a power-controlled hoist
Risks of operating uncertified
- ✓Basket and workers falling if the basket or its rigging fails
- ✓Workers ejected through a gate or guardrail gap while suspended
- ✓Crane overload or two-blocking leading to a dropped load with workers on board
Testing, standards & frequency
Load / performance test
A proof test is typically required before first use and after repair, commonly by holding the basket suspended with a test load of about 125% of its rated capacity for a short period, then re-inspecting the welds and rigging. A documented trial lift with a representative load at the actual lift location is also usually carried out before personnel are lifted, depending on the standard and client.
Inspection interval
Typically at least annually and after any repair or modification, with an inspection before each shift of use, a proof test before first use or after repair, and a trial lift each time the basket is set up at a new location.
Standards referenced
- ASME B30.23 (personnel lifting systems)
- 29 CFR 1926.1431 (hoisting personnel)
- ASME B30.5 (mobile and locomotive cranes)
- Manufacturer specifications and load charts
Part of our Lifting Equipment Inspection & Load Testing service. You receive an inspection report, Certificate of Conformity and inspection tag for passing equipment.
Industries using this equipment
FAQs
Is a man basket allowed on a crane in Saudi Arabia?＋
Many clients and standards treat crane personnel lifting as a last resort, allowed only when other means such as a MEWP, scaffold or access platform are not practical. Where it is permitted, a certified basket, a certified crane, a lift plan and a trial lift are usually required.
Can any crane be used with a man basket?＋
No. The crane typically has to meet personnel-lifting requirements such as controlled power lowering, a working anti-two-block device and operation within a reduced fraction of its rated capacity, so the crane and basket should be assessed together.