Lifting Equipment Procedure. Committees / Group Date Consultation: Health and Safety Sub Committee Nov 2016

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1 Title of Standard Operation Procedure: Lifting Equipment Procedure ocedure: Person(s) responsible for the Health and Safety Manager production of report e Reference Number: H&S Procedure 16 Version No: 2 Issue Date: Nov 2016 Review Date: Feb 2019 Purpose and Background Scope (i.e. organisational responsibility) Vital functions affected by this procedure: Monitoring Compliance To outline the process for complying with and implementing arrangements for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment. This procedure is written and issued in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy and should be read in conjunction with the Risk Assessment and Risk Register Policy. Process to be used for monitoring e.g. Audit Responsible individual / committee for carrying out monitoring Frequency of monitoring Responsible individual / committee for reviewing the results Responsible individual / committee for developing action plan Responsible individual / committee for monitoring action plan Audit H&S Sub Committee 3 yearly H&S Sub Committee H&S Sub Committee H&S Sub Committee Escalations (if you require a clarification regarding this procedure please contact): Health & Safety Manager Committees / Group Date Consultation: Health and Safety Sub Committee Nov 2016 Approval Committee Ratified by Committee: N/A internal SOP N/A internal SOP Received for information: N/A internal SOP H&S_Procedure_16 Page 1 of 9

2 1. Background The purpose of this document is to define how East Cheshire NHS Trust will comply with and implement the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). Please refer to the Manual Handling Policy for specific information relating to moving and handling of patients and static loads. 2 Introduction 1.1 LOLER is aimed at ensuring that all operations are properly planned, equipment is used in a safe manner and that, where necessary, it is thoroughly examined at suitable intervals by a competent person. 1.2 Lifting equipment includes all equipment where the primary function of the equipment is to raise a load (including people). They include lifts, hoists, beams, cranes and attachments such as slings, chains and ropes. 1.3 It is important that the correct type and capacity of equipment is selected for use. 1.4 Detailed legal requirements apply and those with responsibility for premises must ensure that these requirements are met by delegating specific tasks to in- house and contract staff as appropriate. 1.5 Lifting equipment must be identified on a register and subject to ongoing maintenance and checks, alongside statutory test and examination. Records of maintenance and inspection must be retained and kept readily available. 1.6 Inspection reports must be read and actions taken as required. 1.7 Special arrangements must be made when hiring or lending equipment. 1.8 Appropriate safety signs must be displayed. 1.9 Emergency arrangements must be implemented in case of breakdown of passenger lifts. There are also specific reporting requirements in the event of serious failure of equipment Individual operations (such as the craning in of new plant) must be planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner by people who are trained and competent to do so Staff who use, inspect and maintain equipment require training other than those using passenger lifts A suitable and sufficient Risk assessment should be completed prior to use. H&S_Procedure_16 Page 2 of 9

3 2 Scope 2.1 The fact that equipment is designed to lift or lower a load does not automatically mean that LOLER applies. The equipment has to be defined as work equipment, which is defined in the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) as any machinery appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work (whether exclusively or not). Generally, any equipment used by an employee at work will be covered by this definition. In health care settings the main exceptions will be : where a member of the public (e.g. a user of care services) purchases equipment for their use at home, as it is not defined as work equipment, where equipment has been loaned by the Trust or community equipment provider for individuals solely to be used by themselves, family or unpaid carers, as it is not defined as work equipment during the loan period. 2.2 The definition of a operation in LOLER is an operation concerned with the or lowering of a load. It applies to equipment which lifts or lowers loads as a principal function. Much equipment in health care premises has an element of as part of its normal operation, for example a variable-height bed or dentist s chair. However, the principal function of these items is as a bed or chair, and not as a device for or lowering of loads. Height adjustability alone does not mean that LOLER applies to the equipment. 2.3 Please see the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Procedure (H&S Procedure 20) for further details regarding the requirements for work equipment not included under LOLER. 3 Responsibilities 3.1 Health and Safety responsibilities are outlined in section 2.4 of the health and safety policy. 3.2 It is the responsibility of Ward/Department/Service Managers, where operations take place and equipment is used, to ensure that local procedures are in place to: Ensure all purchases by wards or departments of and lowering devices /hoists are made through the procurement Ensure all equipment, including accessories, is identified and placed on the Register of Equipment Subject to Statutory Examination, held by the Facilities Management Department (Hard FM) and that these thorough examinations are undertaken at designated frequencies; Take action where any defects are identified by the examination and where the report of examination indicates the use of the equipment is not safe for continued use the manager must immediately take the equipment out of service pending repair and re examination; Ensure that the records of maintenance and inspections with s of examination where applicable are retained and available for examination; When hiring equipment which requires statutory examination, ensure that the hirer provides the records of examination with the equipment. The Trust are not to buy, borrow or sell any devices or hoists without physical proof that the item or items have undergone a LOLER Inspection and / or a Thorough inspections in the previous twelve months; When allowing equipment to be sent for use away from its normal location, ensure that a copy of the records of examination accompany the equipment; H&S_Procedure_16 Page 3 of 9

4 3.2.7 Take action to ensure that selection, training, maintenance and signage takes place in accordance with this procedure; Ensure that emergency arrangements are in place in case of lift failure as described later in this procedure; Ensure that individual operations, (such as the craning in of new plant) are planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner by people who are trained and competent to do so and that equipment is positioned or installed to prevent the risk of injury e.g. from the equipment or the load falling or striking people; Ensure that staff for whom the manager is responsible, and who have charge of such equipment, are aware of the above requirements and their delegated duties Many of the arrangements relating to equipment maintenance and testing and inspection will be arranged by the Facilities Management Department (Hard FM) but it is the responsibility of Managers to ensure that local arrangements are in place where necessary, and that there is overall control in the use of such equipment in accordance with this procedure. 4.0 Selection of Suitable Lifting Equipment 4.1 Accidents within operations are commonly caused by the use of unsuitable and untested equipment. All equipment used for loads or people, including tackle, slings and other accessories e.g., chains or ropes (fibre and ferrous) and load hook assemblies must be correctly rated and suitable for the proposed usage and load. Where equipment is used for people, it must be specially designed and marked with the Safe Working Load along with the number of persons or weight the machine is designed to lift / lower. 4.2 All suspension points, require a proof load test before they are used and this certification should be readily available for inspection at all times. 4.3 Enclosed lifts should be manufactured and installed in accordance with the Hospital Technical Memorandum (HTM) In the case of passenger and large goods lifts, there may be limited opportunities to influence the design, but if a new lift is planned, consideration should be given to the surface area of the floor relative to the requirements, for example whether space is required for a bed or stretcher. 4.5 The load capacity of all passenger and goods lifts must be assessed, displayed and complied with. Particular care should be taken during major alterations or the installation of heavy plant and equipment, that lifts are not overloaded. 4.6 Passenger lift cars should be equipped with an alarm or intercom for use in emergency and also with emergency lighting. 5 Signage 5.1 Lifting equipment must be visibly marked with any appropriate information to be taken into account for its safe use, e.g. safe working loads. Accessories e.g. slings, clamps etc, should be similarly marked. Marking systems may be used to indicate inspection dates, for example by colour coding slings and tackle at each inspection in order that those H&S_Procedure_16 Page 4 of 9

5 which are out of date can be easily identified. 5.2 Lift motor rooms should be signed externally with warnings to include the following information, or equivalent alternative wordings Danger lift machinery, Access forbidden to unauthorised persons. Other warning and information signs should be displayed within lift plant rooms to warn those maintaining the equipment of dangers such as lift wells, moving machinery, reduced headroom, electrical hazards, the need for hard hats etc., according to the hazards present. A sign should always be displayed giving information on the emergency lift release procedures although this sign should always be displayed within the relevant plant area where the emergency release system is operated, as opposed to being displayed in a more public area. 5.3 Lifts are generally not designed to be used in a fire situation, although there can be exceptions. Where this is the case, signs should be clearly displayed at each level indicating Caution. In the event of fire do not use this lift or similar wording with a pictogram. 5.4 Some lifts, particular smaller goods lifts such as dumb waiters, are not intended for passenger use. Where this is the case, a sign should be displayed indicating that it is forbidden for persons to ride in the lift. The sign should be visible at each level and often this can be achieved by displaying the sign on the lift car. 5.5 All signs should meet current standards as set out within H&S24. 6 Training 6.1 All persons who are to use equipment as part of their work activities need to be trained and competent in the correct use of the equipment. 6.2 Training records should detail the date and content of the course and the names of those who attended. Where training in equipment is included within manual handling training courses, it must be ensured that the equipment covered by the course is clearly indicated within training records. 6.3 Training must also be arranged and record where required, in the release of trapped persons from passenger lifts as described below. 7 Emergencies 7.1 Potential emergencies should be identified and planned for. For example, it is foreseeable that a lift may malfunction and must be ensured that service support arrangements include response times which suit operational and safety requirements. 7.2 The release of trapped persons from passenger lifts can be easily carried out by trained inhouse staff who have undergone a simple training course delivered by the lift maintenance company, alternatively the Fire Service. The content of the course varies considerably depending on whether the lift is hydraulic or utilises mechanical winding gear and, therefore, it must be ensured that those who are designated for emergency response, have received the correct training. Alternatively, it may be possible to have in place a contractual support arrangement which provides release in a timely manner. However, it must be ensured that actual speed of response can meet safety requirements, for example if the users of the lift may be likely to panic in the event of being trapped, this arrangement may not be appropriate. 7.3 It must be ensured that lift alarms and intercoms operate effectively, through regular checks. It must be ensured that a suitable response is likely to be initiated, for example, H&S_Procedure_16 Page 5 of 9

6 by checking that the bell can be heard, and that staff who hear it know what to do and in the case of intercoms, being clear about where the call will be received and checking the likely response. New lifts are often fitted with intercoms to the lift supplier s control room and it should be decided whether this is appropriate to the particular circumstances. 7.4 Certain failures and incidents of collapsing of equipment are categorised as dangerous occurrences within the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations Further information on requirements and procedures for reporting are detailed within H&S03. 8 Statutory Inspections of Lifting Equipment 8.1 Before the use of equipment, a test certificate and declaration of conformity must be obtained before use of the equipment. If such a declaration of conformity is more than twelve months old, or if the safety of the equipment depends on installation conditions, a thorough inspection, as described above, will be required before the equipment is taken into service. 8.2 Such examinations are required to be undertaken annually for all equipment and every six months for any accessory and any equipment used for carrying passengers. However, a longer period between inspections is permitted where this is laid down in a of inspection produced by the engineering insurance inspection company, a copy of which should be readily available on site. 8.3 Any actions identified in reports must be corrected within the period specified in the report of examination or, alternatively, the equipment can be taken out of service. 8.4 Where equipment is damaged, or seriously overloaded so as to give rise to a risk of damage, it must be subject to a thorough inspection by the insurance inspection company and any faults corrected before being taken back into use. Similarly the equipment should be inspected after substantial or significant changes have been made, before being returned to service. 8.5 The Regulations place a duty on the competent person conducting such inspections, to make a report to the enforcing authority and to the employer (the Trust), in the event that they observe defects giving rise to a risk of imminent personal injury. If this situation should arise, managers responsible must ensure that the system is not operated until the relevant modifications have been made. 8.6 Thorough examination may be needed at several points during the life of equipment. This is recommended to be on initial use or following installation, periodically during its life and following certain exceptional circumstances. 8.7 The interval between periodic thorough examinations should be in line with the intervals given in the HSE regulations. 6 months or less for equipment people and accessories. 9 Maintenance 9.1 Maintenance and routine inspection should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers or suppliers instructions by suitably trained persons. For lifts and patient hoists, it is usual to put in place a maintenance contract with the manufacturer, supplier or a specialist servicing company. 9.2 An employee nominated to carry out this work should not generally be the same person who Performs routine maintenance, as they would be responsible for assessing their work. A competent person should act impartially and independent. The employer should consider independent verification of any in house competent persons work. H&S_Procedure_16 Page 6 of 9

7 10 Record Keeping Records should include registers which detail every piece of equipment and every accessory, except for disposable slings. The records of inspection should be kept until the next thorough examination report is made available or the expiration of two years, whichever is the later. 11 Identifying Lifting Equipment for work equipment for the purposes of LOLER Equipment Lifting hoists (mobile) Defined as equipment or accessory? Risk of injury? Thorough examination required? Lifting hoists (fixed/ceiling) Stand and raising aids Slings Yes, accessory Bath hoist a device which lifts and lowers a person from outside the bath into the bath H&S_Procedure_16 Page 7 of 9

8 Equipment Bath lift a device which raises and lowers a person within the confines of the bath Defined as equipment or accessory? Risk of injury? Thorough examination required? Lifting platforms Stair lift Standing transfer aid No N/A No, but the requirements Recliner baths height-adjustable baths No N/A No, but the requirements H&S_Procedure_16 Page 8 of 9

9 Equipment Defined as equipment or accessory? Risk of injury? Thorough examination required? Riser recliner chairs No N/A No, but the requirements Profiling beds and trolleys No N/A No, but the requirements Pillow risers No N/A No, but the requirements Active mattresses No N/A No, but the requirements Mattress elevator No N/A No, but the requirements Lifting cushion No N/A under LOLER under LOLER and PUWER to adequately Reference: Health Services Information Sheet No 4(rev1) H&S_Procedure_16 Page 9 of 9