A forklift truck can lift a person safely — but only in a proper man cage, only under specific conditions, and only for the right kind of task. Get those three things wrong and you're outside HSE guidance and, potentially, outside the law. This guide summarises what the UK rules actually say about forklift man cages (also called forklift safety cages or man baskets), when you can use one, and what to check before anyone leaves the ground.
The starting point: HSE guidance PM28
The key document is HSE guidance note PM28 — Working platforms (non-integrated) on fork lift trucks. "Non-integrated" is the important word: a man cage that sits on the forks, with no controls for the person in the platform, is a non-integrated working platform. PM28 accepts their use — but only for occasional, unplanned work at height.
What counts as occasional and unplanned? Things like freeing a blocked sensor, one-off maintenance on a light fitting, or checking damage high in the racking. What doesn't count: routine, planned or repetitive tasks — daily order picking from high levels, scheduled maintenance rounds, stocktakes you run every month. For planned work at height, the law expects purpose-designed access equipment: a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), or for many warehouse jobs simply proper mobile steps and access platforms.
Which regulations apply
Four sets of regulations meet at a man cage:
- LOLER 1998 — lifting a person is a lifting operation. The cage and truck combination must be suitable, and equipment used for lifting people needs a thorough examination every six months, not the twelve months that applies to general lifting gear.
- PUWER 1998 — the truck and the cage are both work equipment: maintained, inspected, and used only by trained people.
- Work at Height Regulations 2005 — work at height must be planned, supervised and carried out safely, using the most suitable equipment for the task.
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — the general duty that sits over all of it.
The capacity rule most people miss
PM28 sets a margin that surprises many buyers: the lift truck's actual capacity, at the relevant load centre, should be at least twice the combined weight of the platform, its occupants and their tools. A cage that weighs 150 kg carrying two people and tools can easily total 400 kg — meaning the truck needs a real capacity of 800 kg or more at that load centre. Check the truck's rating plate, not the brochure figure.
What a compliant cage looks like
A man-riding cage is not a goods cage with ambitions. Purpose-built forklift safety cages — like the GPC standard and heavy-duty man cages we supply — enclose the occupant with full-height sides, a gate that shuts securely, kick boards at floor level, and a means of securing the cage to the truck's carriage so it cannot slide or tip off the forks. Mobile versions add castors so the cage can be wheeled to where it's needed before being mounted.
Just as important is what should never happen: a person must never be lifted on bare forks, on a pallet, or in a goods or storage cage — those have lifting eyes and mesh, not occupant protection, and they are designed for stock, not people.
Safe use in practice
- The operator stays at the controls the whole time the platform is raised — never leave a person elevated with the truck unattended.
- Never travel with the platform raised and occupied; lift and lower only, on firm level ground.
- Secure the cage to the carriage or heel of the forks before anyone gets in.
- Agree signals between operator and occupant before lifting, and keep the area below clear.
- Include the cage in your PUWER inspection regime and its six-monthly LOLER thorough examination.
Integrated platforms are a different case
One distinction worth knowing before you compare prices: an integrated working platform has controls inside the platform linked to the truck, and is treated more like a MEWP — it can be used for a wider range of tasks, but brings its own training and examination requirements. Everything in this guide concerns the far more common non-integrated cage, which locates on the forks and is controlled entirely by the truck operator below.
Choosing a forklift safety cage
Within the non-integrated category, the practical decisions are straightforward:
- Standard vs heavy duty — the GPC standard cage (FLC01Z) covers most single-occupant occasional tasks; the heavy-duty range (FLC02Z–FLC04Z) comes in three sizes with more robust construction where the cage will see harder service between tasks.
- Static vs mobile — mobile versions (FLC11Y, FLC12Y–FLC14Y) add castors, so one cage can serve several parts of the site without a truck shuttling it around. If the cage lives next to the racking it serves, static is simpler and cheaper.
- Fork pocket fit — check the cage's fork pocket centres and section against your truck's forks before ordering; a cage that doesn't locate properly can't be secured properly.
- Where it's stored — a cage that's awkward to fetch tends not to get used, and the alternative people reach for instead (a pallet on the forks) is exactly what the rules exist to prevent.
Frequently asked questions
Are forklift man cages legal in the UK?
Yes — for occasional, unplanned work at height, used in line with HSE guidance PM28, with a suitable truck, a secured purpose-built cage, and the LOLER and PUWER requirements met. They are not a lawful substitute for proper access equipment on routine or planned tasks.
Can you use a forklift man cage for order picking?
No. Routine picking from height is planned, repetitive work — exactly what PM28 says non-integrated platforms are not for. Use a purpose-designed picking solution or suitable steps and platforms instead.
How often does a man cage need inspecting?
Equipment used to lift people needs a LOLER thorough examination at least every six months, alongside your own routine pre-use checks and PUWER maintenance regime.
What's the difference between a man cage and a goods cage?
A man cage protects an occupant: full-height enclosed sides, secure gate, kick boards, and fixing points to the truck. A goods cage carries stock: mesh sides, lifting eyes, stacking feet. The two are not interchangeable, in either direction.
We supply the cages — the safe system of work, truck compatibility checks and risk assessment are yours, and this guide is a summary of published HSE guidance rather than legal advice. Browse the forklift safety cage range, or for planned work at height see our warehouse steps buying guide and the wider access platforms collection. For safe practice around loading areas, our loading bay safety guide covers the ground-level hazards.