SUBJECT: LIFTING OPERATIONS AND LIFTING EQUIPMENT (LOLER)

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1 SUBJECT: LIFTING OPERATIONS AND LIFTING EQUIPMENT (LOLER) 1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this procedure is to give direction on the responsibilities and requirements related to UK legislation covering the provision and use of lifting operations and lifting equipment and ensuring that the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) are complied with. 2.0 SCOPE This procedure applies to all lifting equipment and lifting operations within the University of South Wales Group locations and the use of any lifting equipment on the Group s behalf by its own employees or others. For activities effecting/ altering the fabric of buildings/ estates must be authorised by the Estates and Facilities Department. When implementing this procedure, consideration must be given to the following situations: Purchase of new and second-hand equipment Equipment that is hired, leased, rented or loaned free of charge University operating equipment owned by clients and located on client s premises Modification, adaptation or repair of existing equipment Equipment in use by other persons, at the Group s premises, on behalf of the University 3.0 REFERENCES 3.1 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) 3.2 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) 3.3 OHSS the procedure for Risk Assessment 3.4 OHSS the procedure for Assessment and Control of Contractors 3.5 INDG 290 A simple guide to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations BS 7121 Series. Safety of Cranes. Code of Practice 4.0 DEFINITIONS Lifting Equipment: Work equipment for lifting and lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. Examples are: jacks, cranes, forklift trucks, chains, ropes, shackles, conveyors, pallet trucks, block and tackle, compactor tipplers, digging devices (JCB) excavator, scissors lifts, vehicles used for recovery, vehicle tail lifts, ropes used for climbing or work positioning during arboriculture work. Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 1 of 9

2 Lifting Operations: Work Equipment: Lifting Accessories: Manager: Appointed Person An operation concerned with the lifting or lowering of a load (load includes a person). Any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work. Work equipment for attaching loads to machinery for lifting. Where used within this procedure refers to Faculty of Dean, Head of Department, Director, Principal, Project Manager, Nominated Person or Authorised Person. person with the training, practical and theoretical knowledge and experience required to comply with the following: a) Being familiar with the relevant parts of the project Health and Safety Plan where the lifting operation is being carried out on a site where the Construction (Design and Management) b) Assessing the lifting operation to provide such planning, selection of crane(s), lifting accessories and equipment, instruction and supervision as is necessary for the task to be undertaken safely. This may include consultation with other responsible bodies if necessary and ensuring that, where different organizations are involved, they collaborate as necessary. c) Ensuring that adequate inspection/examination and maintenance of the equipment has been carried out. d) Ensuring that there is an effective procedure for reporting defects and incidents and taking any necessary corrective action. e) Taking responsibility for the organization and control of the lifting operation. f) Ensuring that the crane supervisor is fully briefed on the contents of the method statement The duties of appointed persons for crane operations can vary according to the complexity of the operation. The duties for a basic lift are considerably fewer and less demanding than for a lift at a hazardous location Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 2 of 9

3 5.0 PROCEDURE 5.1 Overview USW s approach to statutory inspections is illustrated below Finance Department (Insurance Function) of USW are responsible for maintaining a master list of lifting equipment and accessories for the Insitution and organising and managing the thourough examinations - the list is to be made available to Departments/ Faculties Faculties and Departments are to utilise the master list and advise Finance when items are introduced/ removed in order that the register is maintained - this to be reflected in local management arrangements 5.1 General The manager shall ensure that all lifting equipment and attachments under their control is: BS7121 Strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads (SWL); Positioned and installed to minimise any risks; Used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organised and performed by competent people; and Subject to ongoing thorough examination and, where appropriate, inspection by competent people. The basic requirements of the British Standard are the creation of safe systems of work that include: Planning of the operation Selection of the crane and suitable lifting equipment Preparation of the site Examination of the crane and equipment Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 3 of 9

4 Provision of properly trained and competent operatives and supervision Examination of test and other documentation Prevention of unauthorized movement or use Safety of persons not involved in the lifting operations The usual methodology for planning the operation and meeting many of the above requirements is through a Risk Assessment and Method Statement. The code designates three categories of lifts, basic lift, standard lift and complex lift, each having slightly different requirements for the safe system of work. In relation to Crane Hire and Contract Lifting: BS7121 makes a clear distinction between Crane Hire, where the Hirer has responsibility for the planning and organisation of the lifting operations and Contract Lifting where the main responsibilities of planning, organizing and supervising the lifting operation are contracted out to the Crane Owner. A summary of the respective responsibilities are: Crane Hire: The Hirer must: Plan the lift and operate a safe system of work Supply the Appointed Person Carry out all work in accordance with BS7121 Ensure all equipment used is tested and certified and free from any visible defects Contract Lift: The Crane Owner must: Plan the lift and operate a safe system of work Supply the Appointed Person Carry out all work in accordance with BS7121 Ensure all equipment used is tested and certified and free from visible defect 5.2 Work Equipment The Manager shall ensure that all lifting equipment is of adequate strength and stability for each individual load raised or lowered, including the stresses incurred at the mounting or fixing points. They must also ensure that any attachments used in the lifting operation e.g. lifting lugs on containers, eyebolts, etc. are of adequate strength. 5.3 Risk Assessment The Manager shall ensure that all routine and repetitive activities and occasional complex lifting operations are risk assessed. Dependant on the complexity of the equipment and the hazards involved, generic or specific risk assessments will apply. Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 4 of 9

5 5.3.2 In addition for the more complex lifting operations a method statement must be written and issued to all personnel involved in the lifting operation University procedure for Risk Assessment (Reference 3.3), details the framework for conducting a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. The guidance attached to this procedure lists topics that should be considered. 5.4 Information, Instruction and Training The Manager shall ensure that appropriate information, instruction and training is given to all personnel involved in lifting operations and using lifting equipment Only personnel who have attended and passed an approved training course are permitted to operate the equipment specified by the certificate. e.g. forklift truck, overhead crane, safe slinging etc All training certificates shall be renewed following attendance of a refresher course. Refreshers should be held within a three year period and sooner if other circumstances dictate (for example new equipment or working methods). 5.5 Lifting Persons The Manager shall ensure that all lifting equipment used for lifting people prevents anyone using it from being crushed, trapped or struck, or from falling from the carrier. Similar precautions are also required for work activities being carried out from the carrier (this can usually be provided by suitable guarding, consult with Occupational Health and Safety Services if uncertain), (see also LOLER - Regulation 5, Lifting Equipment Used for Lifting Persons) The Manager shall ensure that there are suitable safety devices to prevent the risk of a carrier falling The term 'carrier' is a generic term used to describe the device, which supports people while being lifted or lowered. It includes the following: the car of a passenger lift; the cage of a construction site hoist; a platform on a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP); a cradle suspended from the hook block of a crane; a bosun's chair; and the harness used by an arborist Equipment used for the lifting of people should have a safety coefficient relating to its strength of at least twice that required for general lifting operations. This is the arithmetic ratio between the highest load guaranteed by the manufacturer that the lifting equipment or accessory is able to lift and the maximum working load marked on the equipment. Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 5 of 9

6 5.5.5 The Manager shall ensure that when people can become trapped inside a carrier that they are protected from danger and there is a reliable means of rescue as identified by the risk assessment. 5.6 Storage of Lifting Equipment This section only applies to portable lifting equipment, much of which was formerly referred to as lifting tackle In order to minimise the risk of damage or deterioration, it is essential that Managers provide suitable storage areas, i.e. where webbing does not get damaged, metal slings rusting, etc 5.7 Maintenance, Inspection and Examination The manager must ensure that all lifting equipment is inspected visually prior to, during and after use by those using the equipment and all repairs required are completed by an authorised person Maintenance should only be carried out by persons who are competent to do the work The Manager (or his nominated responsible person) must ensure that the examinations are carried out, and recorded, at the agreed time intervals Equipment which has not been examined within the agreed period must be withdrawn from service and cross referenced to the lifting equipment register The Manager (or nominated responsible person) shall act, within the specified time period on any instructions from the competent person. These instructions should be detailed in the report and will be communicated at the time of the visit. Certain defects (existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury) must be notified, without delay, to the Health and Safety Executive by the competent person All lifting equipment shall be visually examined before each use looking particularly for broken strands, cuts, abrasions, stretching, etc. on items of portable equipment The following tables outline the items of equipment and the frequency of inspections required on a statutory basis. Pre use visual inspections must be carried out by the user of the equipment each time it is put into service/ use All thorough examinations are scheduled through the Estates and Facilities Department and therefore any additions (equipment purchased for example) must be notified to them. Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 6 of 9

7 Table 1 Examples of equipment covered by LOLER Lifting Equipment Cranes Workplace passenger and goods lifts Construction hoists Scissor lifts Vehicle tail lifts Stair lifts Telehandlers and industrial lift trucks Vehicle lifts Accessories for lifting Slings Hooks Shackles Eyebolts Ropes used for climbing or work positioning Table 2 Equipment and examination schedules Type of Equipment 6 months 12 months Examination Scheme Accessory for lifting this to include harnesses, lanyards, etc Equipment used to lift people - e.g. man rider cage on FLT All other lifting equipment Fall Arrest Harness and ancillaries Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 7 of 9

8 Table 3 Record Keeping Type of examination or inspection Thorough examination before first use. Thorough examination before use where the safety of the equipment depends on the installation conditions In-service thorough examination (6- monthly, 12-monthly or examination scheme) In-service inspections/tests How long to keep records Lifting equipment until the employer ceases to use the lifting equipment Lifting accessories for two years Until the equipment is no longer in use at the place where it was installed/ assembled Until the next report is made or two years, whichever is the later. Until the next report is made 5.8 Documentation and Marking The manager shall ensure a list is available of all lifting equipment at the Department/ Faculty. This list must be kept up to date with new purchases or items removed from service. This list is used to ensure all items are inspected by the Insurance Company in accordance with table The manager shall ensure that all University lifting equipment is appropriately marked with its safe working load (SWL), and, if this depends on its configuration, information detailing this must always be available All University lifting equipment shall be appropriately marked with an identification number All lifting machinery supplied after the 31/12/94 must have an EC declaration of conformity (available on site where the equipment is to be used). Any lifting machinery or equipment purchased second hand and manufactured prior to 31/12/94 must be upgraded before it is taken into use All lifting equipment shall be thoroughly examined at specified intervals according to the scheme for equipment owned by the University. These particulars are agreed between University management and the approved competent person e.g. Engineer/Surveyor employed by the Insurance Company For all hired, rented, leased or loaned equipment; approved contractor s (see the procedure for Control of Contractors (Reference 3.4) equipment used on behalf of the University or equipment used by University employees; the manager in charge of the location or the lifting operation must ensure that an examination scheme is in place and all appropriate markings and documentation are checked for compliance. (See Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998 (Reference 3.1); Regulation 7, Marking of Lifting Equipment and Regulation 11, Keeping of Information). Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 8 of 9

9 5.8.7 The Manager shall ensure that before acquiring second hand lifting equipment copies of the original test certificates, the last two years thorough examination reports and documentation on actions resulting from these reports is obtained from the other party by the relevant manager 5.9 Records The Manager shall ensure that EC declarations of conformity and original test certificates for lifting equipment are retained for as long as they operate the lifting equipment Thorough examination reports for lifting equipment accessories shall be kept for at least two years (this includes anything relating to deterioration in condition) Thorough examination reports relating to the installation or assembly of lifting equipment shall be kept until the equipment ceases to be used at the location where it was installed or assembled Records relating to the inspection of lifting equipment shall be kept until the next record is made When equipment is sold or transferred to another location the records shall be passed on to the new owner/responsible person. 6 DOCUMENTATION Document Ref: Document Title Minimum Retention Period n/a Owner: Ian Pugh OHSS /14 Page 9 of 9