Conquip Rescue Cage

Crane-lifted rescue cage with inverted T-shape design for retrieving personnel suspended from a leading edge. Four-occupant capacity, 1000kg WLL.

The Conquip Rescue Cage is a crane-lifted frame designed primarily for retrieving stranded personnel working at height. The distinctive inverted T-shape allows the crane operator to position the cage directly beneath operatives suspended from a leading edge by harness, providing a stable platform for the casualty to be brought into the cage and lowered safely to ground level. The same shape gives the cage easy crane access between floors and through restricted vertical openings — situations where a conventional rectangular cage cannot be deployed. The cage carries up to four occupants, or three occupants plus a casualty on a stretcher. Each occupant has a designated internal harness attachment point, and the cage features a Square Hollow Section (SHS) for use as an Emergency Descent Point (EDP) during evacuation. The access door is positioned on the short end of the inverted T-shape, providing clear access from building levels — important when retrieving personnel from leading edges or balconies. Half-height solid steel sides offer maximum protection while preserving visibility for the crane operator, attendants, and casualty.

Technical Specifications

Key Features

• Inverted T-shape design enables crane access between floors and through restricted vertical openings where a rectangular cage cannot reach
• Door positioned on the short end of the inverted T provides clear access from building levels and leading edges
• Four-occupant capacity (or three occupants plus a casualty on a stretcher) — suits team rescue scenarios
• Designated internal harness attachment point per occupant for fall protection during retrieval and transit
• SHS Emergency Descent Point (EDP) for evacuation if the crane or lifting chain becomes inoperable
• Half-height solid steel sides offer maximum protection while preserving visibility for the crane operator, attendants, and casualty
• Recessed handrails provide stability without snag risk during entry, exit, and transit
• Supplied with chain slings — ready to deploy in an emergency
• Versatile for site-specific applications such as maintenance work in hard-to-reach areas (subject to a site-specific risk assessment)

Suitable Applications

The Rescue Cage is designed for retrieving personnel suspended from a leading edge by harness — typically on RC frame, steel frame, and structural concrete projects where personnel work at the perimeter of an open structure. The inverted T-shape also suits rescue between floors of a structure where access from the side is restricted. Larger construction sites running multiple lifting operations frequently carry both a Stretcher Cage (for casualty extraction from within the structure) and a Rescue Cage (for retrieval from leading edges). The cage is occasionally used for site-specific maintenance work in hard-to-reach areas, but only after a written risk assessment authorises this use.

How to Use

1. Verify the cage is sited and accessible to all areas where leading-edge work is carried out — confirm in the site rescue plan
2. Carry out pre-use checks: cage frame integrity, lifting points, harness points, handrails, master link, and door operation
3. In an emergency, the crane operator positions the cage beneath the suspended casualty using the inverted T-shape to clear the leading edge
4. The casualty is brought into the cage through the door and connected to a designated internal harness point
5. Attendants entering the cage connect their fall arrest harnesses to the designated internal harness points
6. The door is closed fully before any movement of the cage
7. The crane operator lowers the cage to the rescue point at a steady, controlled speed
8. The casualty is transferred to medical care at ground level; the cage is returned to its dedicated location and inspected before next deployment

Warning: All occupants and the casualty must be connected to designated internal harness points. WLL of 1000kg must not be exceeded — combined occupant weight, casualty weight, stretcher, and equipment all count toward the total. Pre-use inspection required before every deployment, and a thorough examination every six months under LOLER 1998.

Safety Information

• Working Load Limit of 1000kg must not be exceeded under any circumstance
• Cage must be available on sites where leading-edge work is carried out — confirm in the site rescue plan
• Pre-use inspection required before every deployment; thorough examination every six months under LOLER 1998
• All occupants must wear an approved fall arrest harness connected to a designated internal harness point
• Door must be fully closed before any lift commences
• Use of the cage for non-rescue purposes (such as maintenance work) requires a written, site-specific risk assessment
• Lifting must be carried out by a competent crane operator with a trained banksman or signaller
• Cages with damaged frames, distorted shape, compromised door mechanisms, or worn harness points must be removed from service immediately
• Use only the supplied chain slings; verify chain condition as part of pre-use checks

Frequently Asked Questions