Forklift cages, also known as ‘forklift man baskets’, are an important attachment when it comes to forklifts and their usefulness. See our blog on the 6 most popular forklift attachments which further explores the different types of forklift accessories that can be equipped to forklift trucks to widen their practical potential.
Forklift cages can transform a forklift into a stable, secure access platform. Forklifts are generally used for lifting materials and products but when the right accessories are added, they can also lift people. This makes them incredibly useful when the need to access high places is necessary. Check out our new reach forklifts if access to heights is something you need for successful forklift operations.
There are many different types of forklift access platforms, suitable for different vehicle types and applications. Choosing the right accessory and using it correctly, can prevent accidents at your site and enable your team to work safely at differing heights in a productive manner.
What Are The Common Uses For Forklift Cages?
It is important to understand that first of all, forklift access platforms are not designed for continuous long-term use; they are a temporary method of access often used for maintenance and repair work. Obviously, in warehousing and storage industries, this can be an incredibly handy option as maintaining the workplace standards to a high level is often required in order to adhere to workplace rules, regulation and safety of employees.
What’s more impressive about forklift cages and man baskets is that they are designed to lift one or more people. They provide far more stability than a ladder or mobile platform and they are surrounded by bars which reduce the chance of slips, falls and workplace related injuries. They can be attached in a sufficient time to a standard forklift which offers plenty of lifting and height reaching support.
Forklift Cage – Useful Knowledge
It’s important to get the right type of forklift safety cage for your forklifting needs and to ensure that it suits your forklift’s type. Always make sure you are lifting a load within the truck’s safe working load capacity and the cages’ capacity. Safe working load capacities are indicated on the serial plates attached to the equipment.
Many forklift cages are designed with integrated controls, giving operatives full access over the cage while it is in use. This is a great safety measure, allowing those on the cage to override the forklift’s controls and safely navigate themselves up and down from the platform.
Using forklift cages can even save you money by preventing costly accident lawsuits and limiting employee downtime caused by injuries!
Using The Forklift Cage Safely
Safety is the key reason you should consider buying a forklift cage. Check out our top 10 forklift safety tips to have a further understanding on the best safe practices for forklift use around the workplace environment.
As long as the cage is correctly attached and the truck is properly weighted, workers can quickly and easily access a range of heights and complete work safely. Thanks to the safety bars, anchor points and grab handles, using a forklift cage is sure to reduce on-site accidents.
Section 7 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 puts strict emphasis on business owners to ensure that access platforms are used safely. Forklifts are often used inappropriately by workers when carrying out short-term jobs such as repair work. However, an access platform can make a forklift much safer, and it is accepted under the Work at Height regulations.
When to Select A Forklift Man Basket
Forklift safety cages should be considered when a ladder simply won’t be able to perform the job correctly but scaffolding seems unnecessary, cost ineffective and time-consuming to construct. This is where the forklift man cage thrives and could be the best solution to prevent workers using unsafe equipment to complete tasks. There are many forklift truck cages in today’s market so it is advised that you have a browser and see what suits you and your forklift truck needs.
Different Uses For Forklift Cage:
Forklift cage uses are limitless. In this section we will take you through the different uses for forklift cages:
- Forklift cages for lifting goods: Forklift cages can actually be used to transport items of heavy weight at a large distance conveniently. A basic ramp with a hinge is attached in the front for easy access and a plate for compliance and serial number is attached in the front plate of the forklift cage. It is fitted with copious pockets that enhance its usage and a bright yellow paint makes it identifiable even from great distances.
- Forklift safety cage with mesh sides: These cages are becoming more and more prevalent when dealing with heavy weight. The forklift cage has a back that can be conveniently dismounted if needed and can smoothly carry about two-hundred kilograms or two people.
- Forklift safety cage with rail sides: These cages have sides that are fitted with gates. These cages are useful for covering short distances on ground with a substantial load. The closing door on the inner side is fitted with a spring and an automatic door lock facility.
We hope we have clued you up with the knowledge of forklift safety cages, their safety benefits around the workplace and the many types of forklift cages that are available in today’s forklift market so that you can conduct your work as efficiently and risk free as possible.