FEL/pallet forks as scaffolding

[M5farms]

a lot of folks are scared of their shadow and will file stalking charges on the shadow as soon as the get an consult with dewey cheatem and howe. Use some common sense and have a backup plan if things go wrong. If its your time to go then its your time . Live life to the fullest .

 

[majorwager]

Einthewoods,
I think the saying goes, **** the torpedoes, full speed.......... and yes you could interpret it as overwhelming support, or NOT

 

[Einthewoods]

Two points.

Plywood on the ceiling is not the best idea. It will cost a little more but liner panel metal sheets are lighter, easier to install, permanently painted in white. In a few years you will wish you used metal if you put up plywood......

Thanks Kenny. I have gone back and forth on that of the last several months of planning it. I suspect I will go back to metal and back to wood and likely end up on metal for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[s219]

Back in the 80s and 90s we made a work platform/box out of a pallet and 2x4 lumber in order to change light bulbs in my dad's shop building with a fork lift. Never had problems, were very careful, and it worked OK. But this was a business and I am sure we would have gotten skewered by OSHA if they ever saw that.

 

[4570Man]

I use the FEL as scaffolding all the time. It works great. Anyone who would rather set up scaffolding by themselves on an outdoor project is crazy. I used this setup for my roofing repair and to pressure wash the whole house. When it warms up I’ll use it again to paint the house. Good luck lifting bags of shingles to the roof with scaffolding and making 5 second height changes. People like to focus on the very minor chance of a lift hose blowing while ignoring the chance of falling off the ladder.

 

[Einthewoods]

Thanks 4570Man. I like the cage you have there.

 

[Ivan1547]

Just be careful, don't let anyone else help you, set parking brake and loader brake.
I built this one, mesh on the floor, welded a sturdy frame all around, use a heavy tie strap to attach it to the pallet forks. Attached is a photo of my setup putting in LED lights in my Quonset.

 

[4570Man]

The contractor who did my last house had a metal “basket” that was about 8’ wide and had slots for the forks. The railing could come off on the one side for working on siding. It looked like a good idea.
People are up in hydraulic buckets all the time. Firefighters are up in ladders that are hydraulic that can go over 100’. I’m sure some type of failure could lead to injury and or death. However I’d hate to see you scared off of building a proper platform and renting say an A frame ladder. I’ll take the platform all day long- way easier and safer than you hiking stuff up a ladder.
Btw- if you hired it done the contractor would use scaffolding with wheels. That’s also an option if you can find someone who will rent it.

Any hydraulic boom lift designed for lifting people have backflow valves on the hydraulic. A hose failure isn’t going to result in it falling where it will a tractor. That’s why the safety police get so worked up over it. I still take the prospective it’s safer than a ladder.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Forklift Safety Cage Work Platform Collapsible Lift Basket Aerial Rails 36"x36"

 

[LouNY]

It is done frequently and has been done for years.
If you are going to be working by yourself and using a ladder to get up and down from it,
you could make a safety, if desired, get it to the desired height, measure the cylinder extension,
then cut a piece of angle iron to lay on the cylinder rod and seat against the cylinder end and the loader frame.
I don't always do the safest things, but I do the same when working on my tractor with the loader lifted for
clearances, that little piece of angle iron assures me that no matter what else I do the loader can't unintentionally drop.