Since 1 July 2022, stricter regulations have applied to the use of personnel baskets and work baskets for working at height. You may have heard that their use has been banned altogether—but is that really the case? And do the new requirements actually make working at height safer?
In this video podcast, Dirk van Blijswijk, fall protection specialist, discusses the latest regulations and what they mean in practice.
Watch the video podcast
First things first: is it now prohibited to work with personnel baskets and work baskets?
Dirk explains:
“No. They can still be used, but the requirements have become stricter. This follows a number of accidents involving personnel baskets in the past. Employers must include the use of these baskets in their Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) and prepare a work plan. That work plan must be reviewed by a competent safety specialist. In addition, the employer must notify the relevant authority before the work is carried out.”
Personnel basket vs. work platform
What exactly is the difference? Dirk explains it in the podcast.
Personnel basket
A basket designed for carrying out work at height, fully enclosed by guardrails to prevent occupants from climbing out or falling.
Work platform
A platform designed for carrying out work at height that is fitted with guardrails on all sides except one, or has a guardrail that can be opened on one side to allow the manual loading and unloading of goods. In these situations, the risk of falling is controlled by other technical, non-user-dependent safety measures.
What about MEWPs?
The podcast also discusses why stricter regulations have been introduced for personnel baskets and work platforms, while similar changes have not been made for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).
Frits comments:
"I don't know whether more accidents occur with MEWPs, but you do occasionally see them overturn. A crane with a personnel basket may only be operated by an experienced crane operator. In addition, the lifting gear, wire ropes or chains, and the basket itself are all inspected. A MEWP, on the other hand, can generally be operated by anyone who has received the appropriate training."
Challenging to plan
One aspect of the stricter regulations that many organisations find difficult is the notification requirement.
Dirk explains:
"Take the shipbuilding industry as an example. From a planning perspective, it's often impossible to submit a notification three days in advance. The industry is now looking at using a single work plan for multiple locations, provided the work remains the same. It will be interesting to see how that develops."
Get in touch
Would you like to learn more or stay informed about future developments? Contact the specialists at Mennens for expert advice.
Podcast summary: changes to the Working Conditions Decree (Article 7.23d) on the use of personnel baskets and work platforms
Since 1 July 2022, the regulations governing the use of personnel baskets and work platforms for working at height have become more stringent, leading to some confusion within the industry. According to specialists in working at height and lifting operations, it is a misconception that the use of personnel baskets has been completely prohibited.
The purpose of the revised legislation is to improve safety by requiring employers to assess risks more thoroughly before using a personnel basket or work platform. Employers must now demonstrate that this method of access is justified by preparing a Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) and a work plan, which must be reviewed by a competent safety specialist. In addition, the planned work must be reported to the relevant authority in advance.
The revised regulations have also received criticism. For some industries—such as shipbuilding—the advance notification requirement can be difficult or impractical due to the dynamic nature of the work. Having the work plan reviewed by a competent safety specialist may also increase project costs.
Although the intention of the legislation is to improve safety, it remains to be seen whether the additional administrative requirements and increased complexity will achieve that objective in practice. As more experience is gained with the revised regulations, their impact on workplace safety can be evaluated more effectively.
