Lifting of people using cranes

In addition to the requirement of section 59(2), the conditions in this annex shall be fulfilled when persons are lifted using cranes intended for the lifting of goods.

This exclusively refers to work baskets (baskets) or work platforms (platforms) which are suspended from the crane hook and are therefore not interconnected with the crane. Basket or platforms shall be considered part of the load.

1. Cranes

1.1. The crane shall have a permissible load of at least 1,500 kg in the position in which the person is lifted.

1.2. The weight of the total lift, i.e. the basket or platform with persons and materials, shall not exceed 1/4 of the permissible load of the crane and shall never exceed 1,000 kg.

1.3. The crane shall not be designed for free lowering and there shall be at least one hoisting and lowering speed of at most 0.3 m/s.

1.4. In the case of passenger transport, the speed of the crane hook in any direction shall not exceed 0.5 m/s.

1.5. The crane operator shall have completed a crane operator’s education and be in possession of a crane operator’s certificate in accordance with the Danish Executive Order on occupational health and safety training programmes (‘bekendtgørelse om arbejdsmiljøfaglige uddannelser’). In addition, the driver shall be fully familiar with the individual manoeuvring and operation of the crane.

1.6. The lifting of a person shall always be planned so that the hook does not get closer than 2 metres to the top disc.

1.7. Before a person is lifted, it shall be checked that the crane has a safe and functional working height stop. It shall also be checked that cranes with movable overhangs have a safe end stop for the upward movement of the equalizer and that the trolley cannot derail or travel beyond the ends of the rail and that it is securely held in any position.

2. Baskets or platforms

2.1. Baskets or platforms shall be surrounded on all sides by a 1-metre high guardrail of sufficient strength which ends tightly to the floor with a 15-cm high toeboard. The guardrail shall at minimum consist of a toprail and midrail all the way around or have proper netting or plates installed. There shall be a toprail within 10 cm above or 10 cm within the upper edge of the guardrail.

2.2. Anchor points shall be provided for attaching anti-fall equipment. Each anchor point shall be capable of absorbing a force of at least 3 kN. The number of anchor points shall be at least equal to the permissible number of persons in the basket or platform.

2.3. There shall be a gate in the guardrail. The gate shall not open outwards. The gate shall be able to close itself and be equipped with a solid and automatic locking device.

2.4. The floor shall be dense.

2.5. Baskets or platforms shall be held up by

1. a rigid suspension frame which is completed at the top by an eye or the like for the attachment of the crane hook or
2. by chains or steel straps soundly attached at a height that is at least that of the guardrail’s upper edge. The chains or straps shall be assembled at the top of one attachment point in such a way that no angle in the vertical plane between the straps or chains is more than 90 degrees.

2.6. Chains, straps and suspension racks shall be a fixed part of the basket. Chains or straps may not be able to be removed from the basket or platform without the use of tools.

2.7. Each steel chain shall be able to bear the total load with a safety factor of 8 against the guaranteed minimum breaking strength of the chain. It is not permitted to use chains made from materials of less than 6 mm in thickness.

2.8. Each steel strap shall be capable of bearing the total load with a safety factor of 10 in relation to the guaranteed minimum breaking strength of the strap. It is not permitted to use straps with a diameter of less than 8 mm.

2.9. The safety factor for the attachment (eye bracket, shackle, suspension rack, etc.) of the lifting gear shall be at least 8 in relation to the minimum guaranteed breaking strength of the suspension.

2.10. At the most unfavourable location of the load, the basket or platform shall not slope more than 20 degrees.

2.11. The attachment of the basket or platform to the crane hook shall be secured against unhooking.

2.12. The basket or platform shall have clear signage stating the permissible load.

2.13. The load shall be stated as a maximum permissible load in kg and as a permitted number of persons + other weight in kg.

2.14. The basket or platform shall not bear the CE marking according to EU legislation on machinery.

3. Use

3.1. The lifting of persons by crane may only be carried out using a basket or platform.

3.2. Baskets or platforms shall not be left in the raised position.

3.3. An instruction for use for the basket or platform shall be provided which shall contain adequate information on how to use and maintain it. Instructions for use shall be stored in the basket or platform.

3.4. Before lifting, the equipment and working conditions shall be reviewed by the crane operator along with the person or persons to be transported. In addition, the crane operator shall check the basket or platform, its suspension and attachment to the crane hook as well as the functions and safety equipment of the crane.

3.5. Persons in the basket or platform shall use fall prevention equipment which prevents the person from falling off the basket or platform.

3.6. Only tools and objects of such shape and weight may be included that they can be handled without danger by a single person.

3.7. If electric welding is to be carried out from a basket or platform, it shall be ensured that the welding current cannot pass through the crane hoisting rope, for example, by insulating the crane hook.

3.8. The lifting of persons by crane in the open air shall not take place in adverse weather conditions.

3.9. If lifting is being done on an area with traffic, a traffic lockdown shall be established to prevent the crane from being hit and to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the crane's working area.

3.10. The crane operator shall be able to conduct a conversation with at least one person in the basket or on the platform. If they cannot hear each other verbally, a connection shall be established, for example, via radio or telephone. The crane operator shall have visual contact with at least one person in the basket or on the platform who knows the correct signs to give for crane work.