Health and Safety Q&A – Lifting Operations

The following Q&A session is intended to provide answers to some of your issues. If you need further assistance, please contact us to discuss how we can help you.

Q – What legislation applies to the use of Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operation?

The use of lifting equipment is covered by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), but as lifting equipment is also works equipment, it is also covered by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).

Lifting equipment is used to reduce or avoid the need for manual handling of loads; as such there is also an interaction with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

All work activities are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Amongst the several duties created by HASAWA, it places duties on the employer to provide a safe work place, safe plant and equipment, etc. so far as is reasonably practicable.

The Management Regulations place a duty on the employer to:

• assess the risks arising from their undertakings and (in conjunction with HASAWA)
• to reduce those risks down to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

This applies to the use of lifting equipment and to the management of lifting operations.

Q – What are the hazards associated with the use of lifting equipment and lifting operations?

The typical risks associated with the use of lifting equipment include:

• Mechanical hazards associated with the lifting equipment itself, such as points of shear and entrapment
• Failures of the equipment (or of the lifting accessories, such as chains, slings, etc.) in use. These are hazards associated with the strength and stability of the lifting equipment and of the lifting accessories used with the lifting equipment
• Falling loads
• Failure to manage and control the lifting operation properly (leading to crush injuries, etc.)
• Failure to manage the use and storage of lifting accessories (leading to deterioration of equipment and to increased tripping hazards); etc

Q – How do we control the risks associated with lifting equipment and lifting operations?

Several control measures need to be considered, including:

Selection of equipment

As with all forms of work equipment, appropriate selection of lifting equipment is an important first step.

When selecting lifting equipment, employers should consider, amongst other things:

• the working conditions that the equipment will be used in;
• the tasks that the equipment will be required to do (such as consideration of the loads to be lifted); and
• relevant existing risks as well as those risks that will be introduced with the new equipment
• whether the lifting equipment, and all associated accessories, has adequate strength for the proposed use
• stability of the equipment for the proposed use. Mobile lifting equipment, such as hydraulic jacks should be stable during use under all foreseeable conditions.

Siting of equipment

Care must be taken with the siting of the lifting equipment.

There must be adequate room around lifting equipment to prevent, inter alia, the risk of crushing people against the building, items of equipment or stored materials, etc.

Consideration should be given to marking the area around the equipment with, for instance, a yellow box to raise employee awareness to potential hazards and to ensure that materials are not stored in this area. Account should also be taken of the nature of the ground and other surfaces on which the equipment might be used.

Determination and identification of the Safe Work Limit (SWL)

The safe working limit of all lifting equipment must be displayed clearly on the equipment itself.

Similarly, all lifting accessories must be marked clearly with their safe loading limits. Operatives must establish the safe loading limit of all components used in any lift (the lifting equipment and the lifting accessories) and must not exceed the limit of the lowest limit (the weakest link).

Safe storage of lifting accessories

Suitable arrangements must be made for the safe and secure storage of all lifting accessories (such as slings, hooks, spreader bars, etc.) when they are not in use. This is necessary to ensure that the accessories are not subject to mechanical damage or damage through exposure to oils and greases, etc. It is also important as a means of controlling other risks, such as slips, trips and falls.

Maintenance

It is a requirement of PUWER that all work equipment is maintained in a safe and effective condition. All lifting equipment and lifting accessories must, therefore, be maintained in good working order, as must any safety devices associated with the equipment.

Planning of lifting operations 

It is a specific requirement under LOLER that lifting operations that use lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person.

Planning of lifting operations includes

• consideration of the load to be lifted (weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, etc.)
• visibility
• failure of the equipment
• proximity hazards (from nearby equipment and services or from the structure of the premises)
• the potential for overload, etc.

The guidance that accompanies LOLER makes it clear that for routine lifting operations, the operation need only be planned once, but the plan must be revised regularly to ensure that it remains up to date.

Slinging

If the load to be lifted needs to be slung, then the lifting plan must consider the slinging operation. An adequate number of suitable slings must be available. Slinging operations should only be undertaken by a competent person, who has received suitable and sufficient training.

Training

Employers must provide suitable training to employees and must restrict the use of lifting equipment to trained, authorised employees. As well as training in the use of the equipment, employees must be aware of the hazards associated with the use of the equipment and in the control measures to be used to avoid or control the risks.

Q – What are the test frequencies for statutory inspection and test of lifting equipment and lifting accessories?

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), all lifting equipment (and accessories) must be tested and inspected by a competent person at regular intervals. Records must be kept of all inspections and tests, as well as of any remedial works.

The competent person must have appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge of the lifting equipment so that they are able to detect defects or weaknesses. They should also be able to assess the importance of any defects or weaknesses in relation to the continued safety of the lifting equipment.

Lifting equipment that is exposed to conditions which are likely to cause deterioration should be thoroughly examined for any defect at the following intervals:

• after installation and before being put into service for the first time;
• after assembly and before being put into service at a new site or in a new location, to ensure that it has been installed correctly and is safe to operate;
• at least every six months for lifting equipment that lifts persons or lifting accessories;
• at least every 12 months for other lifting equipment;
• in accordance with an examination scheme.

Inspections must be carried out at suitable intervals between thorough examinations. These inspections are to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained, and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time. Hired lifting equipment must not be used without physical evidence that the last thorough examination required under LOLER has been carried out.

If, during the thorough examination, defects are found, then the competent person is required:

• notify the employer immediately;
• make a report to the employer and to the person from whom the equipment has been hired as soon as practicable;
• send a copy of the report to the relevant enforcing authority where the defect in the equipment presents an imminent risk of serious injury.

An employer who receives a report on defects in equipment is required under LOLER to ensure that the equipment is not used before the defect is rectified.

Contact us now for help