Health and Safety Information

(See also:  Management of Health & Safety ; Fork Lift Trucks ; Warehousing ; Work Equipment )

INTRODUCTION

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) came into force in December 1998.  They apply in all work premises and work situations subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.  The Regulations replaced most of the existing law relating to the use of lifting equipment.  The Regulations are aimed at equipment such as cranes, lifts and hoists, and components including chains, ropes, slings, hooks, shackles and eyebolts.  Examples of equipment covered include a passenger lift, a dumb waiter, a vehicle inspection hoist and a scissors lift.  There is also an important link with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) which apply to all work equipment, including lifting equipment. There is an associated Approved Code of Practice and Guidance  (Booklet L113) which has been used to produce this Element.

SUITABILITY OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

Need to consider ergonomic risks when selecting lifting equipment. Material of manufacture needs to be suitable for conditions of use. Means of access/egress need to be safe and suitable. Need to minimise risks from slips, trips and falls from any part of the lifting equipment (e.g. cover or fence any floor openings, suitable edge protection where there is a risk of falling more than 2m, or less then 2m where there are other relevant risk factors involved). Adequate protection for operators (from adverse environmental conditions). Where affected by high wind, need to fit devices to detect dangerous situations (most commonly this would be an anemometer).

STRENGTH & STABILITY

Equipment must have adequate strength for the proposed use, with an appropriate factor of safety against failure. Equipment must also have adequate stability for its proposed use.  Where appropriate, sufficient resistance to overturning must be provided to be put in place and operating effectively before the equipment is used. Lifting equipment with rails are also covered (devices to remove loose material etc.). Mobile lifting equipment with pneumatic tyres to be inflated to the correct pressure.  Means to check this should be supplied. Where there is a significant risk of overloading, need to provide devices such as rated capacity indicators and limiters.

LIFTING EQUIPMENT USED FOR LIFTING PERSONS

Work equipment used for raising/lowering people should be specifically designed for the purpose. There are some very limited exceptions but even with these all necessary precautions to ensure safety (including supervision) must be taken.  Such equipment may include lift trucks, telescopic handlers and cranes.  Guidance on suitable precautions is given in booklet L113. Persons being carried (e.g. in a lift car) should be protected from being injured by something outside of it (i.e. fully enclosed when in use). Persons working from a carrier need to be protected by suitable edge protection; floor to be slip resistant. Lifts cars to have devices to prevent free-fall, independent of the means of suspension of the car.  Where practicable, other carriers to have devices etc. to prevent the carrier falling in the event of the failure of the primary means of support. In the event of malfunction, persons being lifted must not be exposed to danger and a reliable means of rescue must be available (incorporating means to summon assistance, emergency means of lowering the carrier or self-rescue equipment).

POSITION & INSTALLATION

Lifting equipment must be positioned or installed in such a way as to minimise risk of a person being struck or the load moving in an uncontrolled manner.

Need to minimise the need to lift loads over people and prevent crushing when the equipment is in its extreme position.

Path of travel (where fixed) to be protected by suitable enclosure.

Wherever possible, hooks and other similar devices used for lifting to either have safety catches fitted or be shaped to prevent the accidental displacement of the sling etc.

Where 2 or more items of lifting equipment are used they, or their loads, should be prevented from coming into contact with each other.

Suitable gates must be provided at any access/egress points to any hoistway or shaft enclosure; also fitted with efficient interlocking.

MARKING OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

Lifting machinery and accessories to be marked with their safe working load (SWL).  Where it is not practicable to mark the equipment itself, a coding system should be used to provide the user with the SWL (e.g. colour coding, label).  This also applies where the SWL is dependent upon varying configurations (e.g. forklift truck fitted with attachments).

Where a significant hazard arises from the use of the machinery it should be provided with appropriate equipment or devices such as rated capacity indicators/ limiters.

Accessories for lifting include single item (e.g. a shackle) or an assembly of items (such as a lifting beam and slings).  Accessories include slings, shackles, swivel or eyebolts, clamps, lifting magnets, vacuum lifters and lifting beams.

Any carrier of persons should display the maximum number of persons to be carried in addition to the SWL.

ORGANISATION OF LIFTING OPERATIONS

Lifting operations need to be:

- properly planned;

- appropriately supervised; and

- carried out in a safe manner.

The person planning the operation should have adequate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of planning such operations.

The plan must address:

- the risks identified;

- the resources required; and

- the procedures and responsibilities involved.

Where two or more items of lifting equipment are used simultaneously to lift any load, where appropriate a written plan should be drawn up and applied.

Proper planning is a combination of:

THROUGH EXAMINATION & INSPECTION

Issues involved include:-

LOLER requirements are:-

Reg 9(2)

Reg 9(3)(a)

The competent person should be informed of any changes in the use of the equipment that may affect the examination scheme.

Different items or parts of the lifting equipment may be thoroughly examined at different intervals.  The time between thorough examinations should be reviewed by the competent person periodically.

Examples of equipment likely to require a thorough examination include forklift trucks, lifts, cranes and vehicle inspection hoists.

Reg. 9(3)(b)

Where a risk assessment identifies a significant risk to the operator from the use of the lifting equipment a suitable inspection should be carried out, the frequency and extent of which depends on the potential risk.  The inspection should include, where appropriate, visual checks and functional tests.

The persons who determine the nature of the inspections required and carry out the inspections must be competent.  Examples of lifting machinery which may require regular inspection are forklift trucks, hoists, automated stacking equipment etc.

Reg. 9(4)

Lifting equipment must not leave a business or (if obtained from the undertaking of another person) be used in a business unless it is accompanied by physical evidence (e.g. a paper copy of the last examination report) that the last thorough examination required has been carried out.

Reg. 10 - Reports & Defects

Thorough examination - any dangerous defects need to be notified to the employer forthwith by the competent person.

Reg. 11 - Keeping of Information

Employers need to keep the EC declaration of conformity relating to lifting equipment (where received) for so long as the equipment is operated.

Reports of thorough examination of lifting equipment (but not an accessory for lifting) must be kept until use of the equipment ceases.

Reports of thorough examination of an accessory for lifting should be kept for two years after the report has been made.

Other requirements relating to the keeping of records apply to where the safety of lifting equipment depends on installation conditions and where there is exposure to conditions causing deterioration.

The reports, or copies, should normally be stored at the premises where the lifting equipment is being used.

CHECKLIST

REFERENCES/FURTHER DETAILS

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