Using Tractor Shovel as a manlift

[Maxify55]

We do what we have to do around our place, as well.
Most of my neighbors are tickled that I have and will use the man lift with my FEL.
Go up in it myself?
Just a second while I ask the Mrs.
LOL

 

[4570Man]

I feel that in most circumstances the tractor FEL is a safer platform than a ladder. I'd also rather put a ladder on the tractor FEL than the ground.

 

[comancheflight]

As a flight instructor we teach risk mitigation which is the third step in the risk management process. Everything in life has risk. You must asses all aspects to make risk low. There seems to be throughout TBN lots of armchair safety pilots.
Then there are those that do. It doest not mean they are unsafe because they had a need and filled it. Risk mitigation looks at all aspects. Is it safer to do what you need with a ladder vs a manlift? Or maybe scaffolding? Or climb a tree? Aircraft have hydraulic hoses going to the oil coolers and if they break the flight is over and the plane is coming down. What if your on departure and can't turn back. It's risk mitigation. It is low.
On a manlift the risk of hydraulic failure of any kind is extremely low on well maintained equipment. You have higher risk in falling out of a manlift just as a tree stand if you don't use a safety harness.
And probably the highest risk in using a manlift isn't the tractor at all but rather the other person at the controls who goes oops, sorry bout that...kerplunk

 

[ArmyDoc]

Here you go. You just need to have forks for your tractor. If you have a skid steer quick attach it's a piece of cake.
Forklift Safety Cage Work Platform Collapsible Lift Basket Aerial Rails 36"x36"
View attachment 525050

Lol. Beat me to it...

 

[LD1]

Ever see how fast a front end loader can drop with a busted hose?

As a flight instructor we teach risk mitigation which is the third step in the risk management process. Everything in life has risk. You must asses all aspects to make risk low. There seems to be throughout TBN lots of armchair safety pilots.
Then there are those that do. It doest not mean they are unsafe because they had a need and filled it. Risk mitigation looks at all aspects. Is it safer to do what you need with a ladder vs a manlift? Or maybe scaffolding? Or climb a tree? Aircraft have hydraulic hoses going to the oil coolers and if they break the flight is over and the plane is coming down. What if your on departure and can't turn back. It's risk mitigation. It is low.
On a manlift the risk of hydraulic failure of any kind is extremely low on well maintained equipment. You have higher risk in falling out of a manlift just as a tree stand if you don't use a safety harness.
And probably the highest risk in using a manlift isn't the tractor at all but rather the other person at the controls who goes oops, sorry bout that...kerplunk

Excellent post on risk mitigation.

I have worked out of the FEL of my tractor many times. Have put the ladder in the FEL many times as well.

Sometimes a shorter ladder in a front loader is better than a longer ladder on the ground.

And its not like you are working hundreds of feet in the air either.

On a well maintained piece of equipment (tractor) with a forklift basket chained to the frame......do you have greater risk of

A. Injuring yourself due to a failure
B. Getting in an auto accident on the way to rent an actual man lift?