Work Platform For FEL

[skipmarcy]

I had this 4'x4' platform lying around that came off a staircase at a concrete plant and I decided to put it to good use. I cut holes to fit my pallet forks, added a railing and called it a work platform. There are anchors welded on each side for straps to hold the platform tight to the pallet forks back carriage and a safety was added chain for back up.

My FEL will lift the bottom of the platform to about 10 feet. Add me and my pole saw and I can now get limbs up to about 20 feet.

I know a FEL isn't design to lift people and I'll take hits from the safety police on this project, but it sure is safer than standing in the bucket while I trim trees.

I wouldn't worry about what someone else thinks, your rig looks good. A friend & I recently built a platform for mine and we trimmed over 200 trees in & around this pasture. My platform is made from treated 4x4's with 3/4" plywood floor and is 2' deep and 8' wide - 2 men with chainsaws had plenty of room to safely operate. I operated the tractor since I have the most experience with it, I knew what grades etc. we could safely handle etc. I have bolt-on forks on my older bucket that we attached the platform to, then ran long bolts thru the floor of the platform thru the 2 forks. Had a wooden toolbox that fit inside the bucket so the guys had storage for gas & tools etc. without cluttering the platform. We were able to trim up to about 16' - 18'. The landowner was extremely happy with the job and how quickly we got it done.

 

[EddieWalker]

One saftey thought when using it is something that happened to a guy I know. He was trimming some branches on a tree while standing in the FEL. He was either not paying attention, or just didn't see the situation properly. He cut one particular branch that was under tension. It swung around and hit him hard enough to throw him about 20 feet off the FEL. He hit the ground hard and broke several ribs. All he remembers was cutting the branch, then a glimpse of it coming at him. Next thing he knows, he's in the hospital.

Eddie

 

[wedge40]

American ingenuity at work again. Not sure what the safety police would complain about. I agree with most people here it's much safer and more stable than a ladder. As long as you counter balance the weight and don't exceed the load of the FEL whats unsafe about this thing. I had to rent one of tailer type lifts a few years back. Ya know all in one thing. Small 5 HP engine to drive the hydraulic, and three legs for stabilization. I had to go up about twenty feet and reach out maybe 5 or 6 feet. Once the thing quit swinging and swaying it wasn't too bad. But sure hated having to move the platform each time.

Wedge

 

[SkunkWerX]

I'm not the safety police, but I will speculate on the issue.....

The safety issue is a hydraulic leak, busted hose, etc. If a hose or fitting burst while working aloft, you would plummet fast, like gravity. if it was the dump circuit, your bucket would "dump" you.

Installing some pilot-operated check valves at the cylinders and it would remedy that possibility. Any hydraulic manlifts produced for the purpose of lifting a person aloft, must have a proper check valving system.

Always use plenty of rear ballast, too.

 

[ultrarunner]

Nice Job!

Back in the 80's I worked in a Tool and Machine Shop... we were always using a forklift basket... I was only there a short time before it became my job to operate the Forklift Basket. It was a compliment because none of the guys would go up in the basket unless I was the operator.

They knew I was no-nonsense and was not into practical jokes on the shop floor. It also helped that I had a real steady hand at the controls.

We had to take an OSHA safety course and I learned that many on the job accidents were attributed to practical jokes and being in a hurry...

 

[Redbug]

I tower climb on occasion and have to get recertified every couple of years. Part of it involves OSHA regs, etc. Jobwise, when you have to use a bucket, you have to be anchored into the bottom of the bucket.

Common sense wise...I think it would be a good idea to strap yourself onto the bottom of your platform. Make sure there is no slack in the line from your waist to the anchor. The guy that Eddie mentioned probably would not have fallen overboard if he was strapped in.

 

[rambler]

Another thing to watch out for is dropping things (branches?) down along the loader arms. Pretty easy for them to slide into the joystick & dump you on the ground.

Nice rig, nice design, I have no problems with it other than, as the rest, I want it....

--->Paul

 

[JB4310]

I like it alot, it's the perfect size and that grip strut is the icing on the cake, I was gonna jerry rig one out of wood starting with a pallet, I know a guy that will sell me one of those factory fork lift man platforms, but he wants a ton of money and yours looks better IMO.

There is a real risk of falling out of it, but that can be mitigated with a simple harness and a lanyard connected to the forks super structure, either a full body harness and a lanyard with a slow stop shock absorber, that gives you more mobility or just a belt and a positioning lanyard that restricts mobility (so you couldn't fall out in the first place) like Redbug mentioned, but I would attach to the fork frame as opposed to the platform for obvious reasons.

That's what we do when working in these boom lift baskets, it'll make you feel more comfortable and more productive.

115 foot machine here, you could do some serious pruning with this thing.

This is about 90 ft off the ground looking over this 120 year old slate roof we maintain.

Harness

 

[JB4310]

I like it alot, it's the perfect size and that grip strut is the icing on the cake, I was gonna jerry rig one out of wood starting with a pallet, I know a guy that will sell me one of those factory fork lift man platforms, but he wants a ton of money and yours looks better IMO.

There is a real risk of falling out of it, but that can be mitigated with a simple harness and a lanyard connected to the forks super structure, either a full body harness and a lanyard with a slow stop shock absorber that gives you more mobility or just a belt and a positioning lanyard that restricts mobility (so you couldn't fall out in the first place) like Redbug mentioned, but I would attach to the fork frame as opposed to the platform for obvious reasons.

That's what we do when working in these boom lift baskets, it'll make you feel more comfortable and more productive.

115 foot machine here,you could do some serious prunning with this thing.

This is about 90 ft off the ground looking over this 120 year old slate roof we maintain.

Harness

 

[Aquaman]

You'll put your eye out