A vague RFQ produces a vague quote. When you ask for “a crane basket, roughly 4×4, for two people,” you’ll get a price, but the assumptions included in that price may not match your job. The crane hook geometry might be wrong. The floor might not handle your actual loads. The documentation might not satisfy your site’s safety program.
A well-written specification does three things: it gets you an accurate quote from the first round, it gives the manufacturer what they need to build the right platform, and it creates a record you can use to verify what you receive matches what you ordered.
This guide walks through every section of a crane or forklift basket specification, explains what information belongs in each section, and flags the items that most buyers leave out—and later wish they hadn’t.
1. Platform type and intended use
Start with a clear statement of the applications for which the platform will be used. This determines which standards apply, what structural requirements the design must meet, and the required OEM documentation.
Personnel platform (man basket): a platform that will carry people, whether suspended from a crane or mounted to a forklift. Crane-suspended personnel platforms must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1432 and/or ASME B30.23 — compliance with both is not required. Forklift-mounted personnel platforms fall under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.602, 1910.178, and ANSI/ITSDF B56.1.
Material platform: a platform that carries freight only, with no personnel riding during the lift. These fall under general crane and rigging standards (OSHA 1926.550, ASME B30.20 and BTH-1 for below-the-hook lifting devices) rather than the more stringent personnel hoisting rules.
If you’re unsure which category applies to your application, see material platforms vs personnel platforms: engineering differences and proper use before writing the spec. The distinction affects every other section of the document.
2. Rated capacity
State the required rated capacity in pounds. For a personnel platform, this is the maximum combined weight of occupants, their tools, PPE, and any materials they bring onto the platform. Don’t undersize this to get a lighter or cheaper platform—the capacity rating is what the platform is proof-load tested to, and it’s what gets marked on the data plate.
OSHA 1926.1431 requires crane personnel platforms to be proof-load tested at 125% of rated capacity before use. Lifting Technologies performs this test on every platform using our detachable Test Weight System and provides the test certificate with delivery.
For a material platform, the rated capacity should reflect the heaviest load you expect to lift, with margin for load variation and future use. A platform sized exactly to your current heaviest load leaves no room for heavier cargo that shows up six months after delivery.
For a forklift platform, also state the truck’s rated capacity at the relevant load center. A platform that keeps the load within the truck’s rated capacity at standard load centers is a different design problem from one that extends the load center significantly. Both are solvable, but they need to be specified.
3. Platform dimensions and geometry
Specify the required interior floor dimensions: length, width, and clear interior height if headroom matters. Also state any exterior dimension constraints—maximum footprint to fit through an opening, maximum height for transport or storage, minimum floor area for the crew complement.
For personnel platforms, think about how the crew actually works. A two-person basket for inspection work along a beam face needs a different footprint than a two-person basket for radial overhead work. A rectangular platform aligns naturally with linear structures. A round platform gives 360-degree access around a central pick point. State which geometry fits your work.
For material platforms, specify the interior floor dimensions needed to carry your largest load unit—pallet dimensions, machinery footprint, or pipe length—plus any clearance needed for rigging or tie-downs. Also note whether the platform needs to be stackable when empty, and what the stacked height limit is.
Note any non-standard shapes or features: cantilever extensions, stepped floors, internal dividers, or integrated tool trays. We build to best fit your application, and any specifications can be modified to meet your requirements
4. Crane lifting interface
This section is often overlooked and can ause the most problems on site.
Specify the crane hook type and size. Standard shank hooks, swivel hooks, and master links all have different throat openings and load ratings. A platform rigged with the wrong hardware either doesn’t connect to the crane or creates a compliance problem under OSHA 1926.1431(g)(1), which requires hooks used in personnel hoisting to be of a type that can be closed and locked.
Specify the rigging type. Personnel platforms should use a dedicated sling assembly—typically a four-leg wire rope bridle attached to the platform rather than field-assembled rigging. OSHA 1926.1431(g)(5) requires that bridles and rigging used for personnel platforms be dedicated to that use only and not previously used for any other purpose.
State whether a fifth safety leg is required. The fifth leg ties off to the load line above the overhaul ball and is standard on Lifting Technologies personnel platforms. It is required by some site safety programs even when not explicitly mandated by OSHA.
For single-pick (below-the-hook device) designs, specify the pick point location and any height restrictions on the pick bar. Keep in mind, with a material basket a lifting point that is too close to the load will limit your cargo capacity.
5. Forklift interface (if applicable)
If the platform will be handled by a forklift, either as the primary lifting method or for ground movement, the fork interface needs to be specified explicitly.
State the truck class or fork spacing. Standard ITA fork spacings vary by truck class, and pockets that don’t match the truck can’t be used safely. Specify the pocket width, height, and minimum depth for the truck or trucks that will handle the platform.
For personnel platforms mounted to forklifts, specify the attachment system. Gravity alone—forks inserted into pockets with nothing else holding the platform—is not acceptable for personnel use. OSHA requires positive retention. Lifting Technologies’ Quick Claw® Safety System provides positive-locking attachment to the fork carriage, eliminating platform shift or slide during use.
State whether the platform also needs to be movable by pallet jack. If so, specify a second set of pockets sized and positioned for pallet jack tines.
If the same platform will be used with both a crane and a forklift, state that explicitly. A dual-use crane/forklift platform needs to treat both interfaces as primary design cases, not as add-ons to each other.
6. Guardrails, gates, and access configuration
For personnel platforms, OSHA 1926.1431(e) specifies minimum guardrail requirements: rails must be capable of withstanding loads from any direction, and the platform must include a gate or other means of access that can be secured during the lift. State whether your application requires:
- Standard 42-inch guardrails, or taller rails for specific site requirements
- Mid-rails and toeboards (required by OSHA).
- An inward-opening access gate with a positive-locking device (standard on all LT personnel platforms)
- A full-perimeter inner grab rail and fall protection harness anchorage
- Multiple gates for access from more than one side
For material platforms, sidewall height and gate configuration are driven by load containment rather than fall protection. State the sidewall height needed to retain your tallest load unit, whether gates need to open fully for forklift loading, and whether drop-sides or removable panels are needed for rigging or unloading access.
If overhead protection is required—for work below active crane operations, in areas with falling object hazards, or per site safety requirements—state that in the spec. OSHA 1926.1431(e)(5) requires overhead protection when workers are exposed to falling objects. Lifting Technologies offers overhead protection options across both Premier Series and Professional Series platforms.
7. Floor system and surface requirements
For personnel platforms, specify the floor type: open bar grating (standard, good drainage, non-slip), solid plate (required by some sites and by ASME B30.23), or perforated plate. Solid floors are required on some sites to prevent tools or debris from falling through, and are required for ASME compliance.
For material platforms, specify the floor load requirements in terms of load type and contact area. A pallet with 4-inch square skid feet at 4,000 lbs loads the floor very differently from a flat-bottomed machinery base at the same weight. Concentrated point loads from skids, machinery feet, or pipe ends drive floor plate thickness and support spacing. State the worst-case load unit and its footprint.
Be cognizant of wet, oily, or chemically contaminated environments. Non-slip surfaces, drainage patterns, and coating systems all depend on the variable conditions the floor is expected to handle.
8. Environmental conditions and coating requirements
Standard powder coat finishes are appropriate for most construction and heavyindustrial use. Specify a different coating system if the platform will be used in:
- Marine or offshore environments: hot-dip galvanizing after fabrication, or a zinc-rich primer system with a compatible topcoat
- Chemical process areas: coating system compatible with the specific chemicals present; confirm with the site’s corrosion engineer
- High-temperature environments near process equipment: high-temperature coating rated for the expected surface temperature
- Food processing or pharmaceutical facilities: coatings and materials that comply with facility hygiene standards
Also specify hardware coating requirements. Pins, shackles, gate latches, and other hardware are often the first things to corrode in aggressive environments. Stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized hardware should be specified explicitly—it won’t be included by default unless called out.
9. Compliance standards and documentation requirements
State which standards apply to the platform and what documentation needs to ship with it. For most US applications, the relevant standards are:
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1431 for crane-suspended personnel platforms in construction
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.602, 1910.178, and ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 for forklift-mounted personnel platforms
- ASME B30.23 for personnel lifting units (referenced by many sites in addition to OSHA)
- ASME B30.20 and BTH-1 for below-the-hook lifting devices (applies to material platforms)
- State or local standards when applicable
For documentation, specify what needs to ship with the platform:
- Proof-load test certificate at 125% of rated capacity (required for crane personnel platforms under OSHA 1926.1431.
- OSHA Certificate of Compliance
- Engineering drawings with material callouts, and rated capacities
- Material certifications for structural steel and hardware
- Inspection checklist and use instructions
- PE-stamped approval drawings (required by some sites and jurisdictions; specify if needed)
Every Lifting Technologies platform ships with a proof-load certificate and OSHA Certificate of Compliance as standard. PE-stamped approval drawing packages are available for projects that require independent structural review.
Every crane suspended man basket includes access to an online safety video training.
10. Delivery, storage, and site logistics
Specification sections on delivery are often skipped and later cause problems. Include:
- Required delivery date and whether that date is driven by an outage window, a project milestone, or a procurement deadline
- Delivery location and any site access restrictions (weight limits on access roads, height restrictions at the gate, requirement for liftgate delivery)
- Storage requirements if the platform will sit on site before use (outdoor storage, specific environmental protection)
For OEM and integrator applications, also note whether the platform needs to be packaged for export or ocean freight if it’s shipping internationally.
Putting it together: what a complete RFQ includes
A complete RFQ for a custom crane or forklift basket should be a single document that gives the manufacturer everything they need to quote accurately without a round of clarifying questions. It should include:
- Platform type and intended use (personnel, material, crane suspended or forklift mounted)
- Rated capacity in lbs.
- Interior floor dimensions and any exterior constraints
- Crane hook and rigging interface details
- Forklift interface details if applicable, including truck class and attachment system
- Guardrail height, gate configuration, and access requirements
- Floor type and load requirements
- Coating system and environmental conditions
- Applicable standards and documentation requirements
- Required delivery date and logistics constraints
If you have photos of the work area or cargo being lifted, include those. They often communicate geometry and constraints more clearly than text alone.
If your application involves unusual geometry, extreme loads, or multi-mode requirements, it’s worth a conversation with the manufacturer before you finalize the specifications. Lifting Technologies’ engineering team has over 30 years of experience with custom crane and forklift platforms and can help identify requirements you may have missed. Browse our custom crane personnel platforms and custom material platform gallery to see examples of how other buyers have approached similar applications.
FAQs: Specifying a custom crane or forklift basket
Q1. What’s the difference between specifying a personnel platform and a material platform?
Personnel platforms must meet OSHA 1926.1431 and ASME B30.23 requirements, including proof-load testing at 125% of rated capacity, OSHA-compliant guardrails, a positively latching gate, fall protection anchorage, and dedicated rigging. Material platforms fall under general crane, rigging, and below-the-hook device standards (ASME B30.20 and BTH-1) and require documentation but not the same level of personnel-specific engineering. The specifications for each starts in a different place.
Q2. Do I need to specify the rigging, or does the manufacturer provide it?
For crane personnel platforms, the rigging should be part of the platform specification. OSHA 1926.1431 requires dedicated rigging used only for the personnel platform and the work being performed—it cannot be field-assembled from general rigging stock. Lifting Technologies personnel platforms ship with a sling assembly sized and certified for the platform’s rated capacity.
Q3. What proof-load test documentation should I request?
Ask for a test certificate showing the platform was proof-load tested at 125% of rated capacity, the date of the test, the test load applied, and the result. For crane personnel platforms, this is required by OSHA 1926.1431 before the platform enters service. Every Lifting Technologies platform ships with this certificate as standard.
Q4. When do I need PE-stamped drawings?
PE-stamped drawings are required by some site safety programs, some jurisdictional authorities (particularly in states with supplemental OSHA plans), and some end clients who require independent structural review as part of their mechanical integrity program. If you’re not sure whether your project requires them, check with the site’s safety or engineering team before you send the RFQ.
Q5. How detailed do specifications need to be if I’m ordering a standard catalog platform?
For a catalog platform, you still need to verify that the standard dimensions, rated capacity, floor type, gate configuration, and documentation package match your application. The specification process is shorter, but the same questions apply. If a catalog platform is close but not quite right, it’s worth stating the differences explicitly in the order rather than assuming the manufacturer will catch them.
Ready to design your platform?
If you’re ready to put together an RFQ, our team can work through the application requirements with you before you finalize the document. Browse our custom crane personnel platforms and custom material platform gallery to see how we’ve handled similar applications, or contact us directly to talk through yours. The more specific you can be upfront, the faster we can get you an accurate quote and a platform that works.