Crane suspended basket: what it is, when to use it and what UK regulations require
Anyone working at height knows that not every site is the same. There are situations where standard equipment (MEWPs, rigid-mount crane baskets) simply cannot reach the work area: impossible ground conditions, marine environments, unusual structures, restricted access. In these contexts, a less common but valuable solution comes into play: the crane suspended basket, suspended by ropes or chains.
This article explains what this equipment is, how it works, in which situations it is the right choice and, above all, what UK regulations require for its legal and safe use.
What is a crane suspended basket?
A crane suspended basket is a person-lifting device designed to be suspended by ropes or chains from a crane or other lifting appliance. Unlike traditional crane man baskets, which attach to the boom through a rigid or semi-rigid system, often fitted with active levelling, this platform is entirely suspended. It is therefore free to swing within limits controlled by its own structure, and is moved and positioned solely through the movements of the crane itself.
It works with a flexible suspension, which makes it suitable for contexts where a rigid attachment is not practicable, or where greater freedom of movement is needed during positioning.
Available models differ mainly by :
- Construction material: steel or stainless steel, for corrosive, marine or chemical environments
- Configuration: single or multi-person, depending on capacity and type of work
- Suspension system: by rope or chain, with different attachment points depending on the model
When is a crane suspended basket used?
The crane suspended basket exists to respond to situations where standard solutions are not technically practicable. The most frequent contexts include :
- Marine and port environments: access to ship hulls, offshore structures, quaysides, where access from ground level is impossible and a MEWP cannot be positioned
- Complex ground conditions: steep slopes, unstable ground, flood-prone areas or watercourses where no ground-based machine can operate
- Unusual industrial structures: installations where the geometry of the structure prevents approach with a rigid-mount basket
- Maintenance of large infrastructure: bridges, viaducts, towers, where a crane already on site can lift the suspended basket to otherwise inaccessible points
- Emergency and rescue operations: where speed of deployment is the priority and dedicated equipment is not available
In all these cases, the suspended basket allows operators to be brought safely to height by making use of a crane already present on site, without requiring additional equipment.
The regulatory framework: an exceptional-circumstances solution
This is the single most important point to understand about using a crane suspended basket, and it is also the one that generates the most questions.
Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), and its Approved Code of Practice, the raising and lowering of people using work equipment which is not specifically designed for that purpose should only be carried out in exceptional circumstances, when it is not practicable to gain access by other means, for example a purpose-built MEWP. Standard site or industrial cranes are designed to lift loads, not people.
Where a crane is used together with a suspended basket, this falls squarely within that exceptional-use territory. Although the basket itself is a piece of equipment designed and certified by the manufacturer to carry workers, in line with the technical standard BS EN 14502-1 and bearing CE marking, using it in combination with a crane constitutes an exceptional operation, permitted only under precise conditions.
What does “exceptional circumstances” involve in practice?
The recognised UK code of practice for the safe use of cranes, BS 7121, in particular the lorry loader-specific part BS 7121-4, sets out the practical arrangements expected around this kind of operation, alongside LOLER’s general duty to assess and control the risk. In broad terms, these arrangements typically require :
- Justification that no purpose-built alternative is practicable: the risk assessment must show why a MEWP or scaffold cannot be used, and why the suspended basket is the only workable response
- A permanently manned control position: the crane operator remains at the controls for as long as workers are in the basket
- Reliable communication: a secure means of communication must be maintained between the basket and the crane operator at all times
- A documented emergency and rescue plan: covering operator illness, crane failure or sudden deterioration of weather conditions
- Thorough examination by a competent person: LOLER requires this after any exceptional use, in addition to the routine periodic thorough examination of the lifting equipment
On specific numerical limits, such as the maximum permitted load as a percentage of the crane’s rated capacity, or maximum wind speed for the operation, BS 7121-4 and the manufacturer’s own instructions are the reference to follow. These figures are set out in the full standard and in equipment-specific documentation rather than a single universal number, so they should always be confirmed against the crane’s rated capacity charts and the basket manufacturer’s user manual before any exceptional lift.
The essential documents: risk assessment and method statement
Using a crane suspended basket is not simply a matter of buying the product and hooking it onto the crane. Regulations require this exceptional use to always be preceded by a formal, rigorous risk assessment and a written plan, which is the responsibility of the employer of the company carrying out the work.
In UK practice, this typically means :
- a specific risk assessment covering the exceptional lift, distinct from the general site risk assessment
- a method statement setting out step by step how the basket will be rigged, checked, used and de-rigged, including the emergency arrangements described above
- where the work involves more than one contractor on a construction site, coordination through the Construction Phase Plan required under the CDM Regulations 2015, which must reference the specific arrangements for working at height, including any exceptional lifting operation
The procedure for using a suspended basket should always include :
- the justification of the exceptional circumstances: the technical analysis showing why a standard solution (MEWP, scaffold) is not practicable, and why the suspended basket is the only workable response;
- the verification of crane-basket compatibility: minimum technical requirements of the crane (capacity, load-holding systems, safety valves) and conformity of the basket to BS EN 14502-1;
- the personnel qualification requirements: for a lorry-mounted loader crane, the operator should hold the relevant CPCS card, for example CPCS A36 for lorry loaders, and personnel riding in the basket should have received specific training and be equipped with fall-arrest PPE;
- the operational and communication arrangements described above;
- a dedicated emergency and evacuation plan.
Suspended basket or standard crane basket: which one to choose
| Criterion | Standard basket (rigid mount) | Suspended basket |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment to the crane | Rigid or semi-rigid | Flexible, by rope or chain |
| Stability | High, including with active levelling | Controlled swing |
| Regulatory status | Ordinary use, outside the exceptional-circumstances regime | Exceptional use under LOLER 1998 / BS 7121 |
| Typical use cases | Standard interventions, direct access possible | Impracticable terrain, marine environments, inaccessible structures |
The standard rigid-mount man basket, with or without levelling, remains the normal choice whenever conditions allow. It is more stable, simpler to manage from a regulatory standpoint, and available in versions with advanced active levelling.
The suspended basket is the answer when the standard basket cannot be used: because the site configuration does not allow it, because the available crane does not permit a rigid attachment, or because the type of work requires the flexibility of a rope suspension. It is a solution designed for the exceptional case, in the strict sense the regulations give that word.
Platforms crane suspended baskets
Platforms, a division of Ormet with over 50 years of experience in the lifting sector, manufactures crane suspended baskets in steel and stainless steel, available in different capacity and size configurations to suit different operating contexts. Every product comes with complete technical documentation and a datasheet, essential for the risk assessment, method statement and the checks required by the regulations.
For particular situations or specific projects, the Platforms team is available to support customers with technical evaluation, choosing the most suitable configuration, and the correct interpretation of regulatory requirements. Discover the full range at basket-platform.it or contact us.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Is a crane suspended basket allowed by default in the UK?
No. Under LOLER 1998, raising or lowering people with equipment not designed for that purpose is only permitted in exceptional circumstances, when no purpose-built alternative such as a MEWP is practicable, and subject to the arrangements set out in BS 7121.
What is the maximum load a crane suspended basket can carry?
There is no single universal percentage figure published for general use: the maximum permitted load must be confirmed against the crane’s rated capacity charts and the basket manufacturer’s instructions, in line with BS 7121-4.
Do I need a risk assessment or a Construction Phase Plan for a suspended basket lift?
Yes. A specific risk assessment and method statement are always required for this exceptional use. On a construction site with more than one contractor, the operation must also be referenced in the Construction Phase Plan under the CDM Regulations 2015.
What qualification does the crane operator need?
For a lorry-mounted loader crane, the operator should hold the relevant CPCS card, such as CPCS A36 for lorry loaders. Personnel riding in the basket must receive specific training and use fall-arrest PPE.
Which technical standard covers the design of a crane suspended basket?
BS EN 14502-1 covers the design of suspended baskets intended for the occasional and exceptional lifting of persons by a load-lifting appliance.