Lifting Personnel in a Work Basket or Man Basket

Personnel Baskets Are Not Permitted for Routine Work

Although the regulations governing personnel baskets are clear, they are often used incorrectly in practice. On many construction sites, cranes and telehandlers are already available, whereas a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) may not be. Hiring a MEWP takes time and money, and in some situations those resources are limited. As a result, using a personnel basket may seem like the easier option.

However, this is not permitted under the regulations. A personnel basket may not be used for routine work at height. Lifting people with a personnel basket is only allowed in exceptional circumstances, and only when no other suitable work equipment can be used safely. For regular work at height, the use of a personnel basket is prohibited.

Key Legislative Changes Introduced in 2020

As mentioned, lifting personnel in a personnel basket has never been the preferred method of working at height. To improve clarity and create a more consistent approach, the Dutch Working Conditions Decree (Arbobesluit) introduced stricter requirements in 2020.

The most significant changes included:

• Employers were required to notify the Netherlands Labour Authority at least three days before using a personnel basket.

• The work plan had to be reviewed by a registered senior safety specialist.

• Personnel baskets could only be used when the wind speed did not exceed 7 m/s.

These changes generated considerable criticism. Personnel baskets are frequently used for urgent or unplanned work, and the notification requirement made this difficult. In addition, the new rules were largely introduced in response to the frequent use of personnel baskets during asbestos removal projects.

Preparing and obtaining approval for a work plan before every operation also increased both the time and cost involved. Furthermore, the wind speed requirement did not specify where the measurement should be taken—for example, at ground level or at the height of the personnel basket.

The changes also led to confusion, with many people believing that the use of personnel baskets had been banned altogether.

Amendments Introduced in 2021

Following feedback from the industry, the regulations were revised again in 2021.

The key changes were:

• Employers must normally notify the Netherlands Labour Authority at least two days before using a personnel basket. In the event of an emergency, a notification may be submitted less than two days before the work begins. In such cases, the employer must have a Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) in place to justify the use of a personnel basket when there is insufficient time to prepare a formal work plan.

• Where identical work is carried out repeatedly at different locations with the same environmental conditions, a single work plan may be used for all comparable activities, provided it accurately reflects the actual working conditions, the nature of the work, and the surrounding environment. Employers may seek assistance from a competent specialist when preparing this work plan.

• The work plan must now be reviewed by a competent specialist, rather than specifically by a registered senior safety specialist.

• Personnel baskets may now be used when the wind speed does not exceed 13.8 m/s, measured at the highest point of the lifting equipment. This amendment both clarified the measurement location and increased the maximum permissible wind speed.

How Do You Comply with the Regulations?

The use of a personnel basket or work basket is considered an exception rather than the standard method for working at height. So, when is its use justified, and when is it not?

To help answer these questions, an official guideline has been developed. It explains the key principles, requirements, and rules for the safe and compliant use of personnel baskets.