Suspension work platform hoist system with communication system

A hoist system (10) for raising and lowering a work platform (100) on a rope (400), comprising:

• a hoist (200) having a motor (210) and a traction mechanism (220) designed to cooperate with the rope (400), wherein the hoist (200) is releasably attached to the work platform (100);
• and
• a hoist control system (700) in electrical communication with the motor (210), wherein the hoist control system (700) has a data transmitter (730) to transmit data to a hoist fleet management system to store, analyze, and generate at least one command, a data receiver (740) to receive the at least one command from the hoist fleet management system, and a monitoring and diagnostic system (750) to monitor at least one characteristics of the hoist (200) at a predetermined sampling period, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group of hoist operating hours, overspeed test confirmation, velocity, acceleration, input voltage, current draw, ambient temperature;
• wherein the hoist control system (700) transmits data representative of a location of the hoist (200) to the hoist fleet management system, and the hoist control system (700) prevents operations of the motor (210) if the hoist location is not in an authorized area of operation.