Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998

1. Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998 • came into force 5/12/98 • applies to all work activities • duties on those in control • employers • self-employed 1

2. What’s been lacking up to now? • Not risk based • Regs limited by industry - FA 1961, s.26-27 • hasn’t covered all lifting equipment • different Regs, different requirements • contradicts Machinery directive • http://www.towercrane.com/tower_cranes_Detail_Select.htm 2

3. Key definitions • Lifting equipment - “work equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it” • accessory for lifting - “work equipment for attaching loads to machinery for lifting • lifting operation - concerned with lifting or lowering of a load • Load - includes people 3

4. Examples Traditionally; • Equipment - cranes, lifts and hoists • Components - chains, ropes, slings, hooks, shackles and eyebolts • eg office block passenger lift, rope and pulley lifting bucket on site, dumb waiter, vacuum lifting crane, vehicle inspection hoist, scissors lift 4

5. Main elements of LOLER • Regulations 4 to 7 - basics • strength and stability [Reg 4] • Lifting Equipment for lifting persons [Reg 5] • Positioning and installation [Reg 6] • Marking of Lifting Equipment [Reg 7] • Regulation 8 - planning for safe lifting operations and safe operation of equipment; • HSE guidance and British Standard BS7121: part 1: 1989 • Regulation 9 - Thorough examination and inspection; • deals with initial and continuing integrity of equipment. 6

6. Planning and conducting lifting operations safely • HSE guidance - L113, ‘Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998: Safe use of Lifting Equipment. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance’ • British Standard BS7121: part 1: 1989 • Employers shall ensure that every lifting operation is; • properly planned by a competent person • supervised • carried out safely 7

7. Competent to plan and supervise • The competent person should have adequate and theoretical knowledge and experience of planning lifting operations • ‘appropriate supervision’ means that it should be proportionate to the risk, the nature of the work and the competence of those involved 8

8. Lifting operations - Use a Safe System of Work [SSOW] • Appointment of competent persons • management & supervision of lifting operation to SSOW; • crane driver • slinger • safe system of work devised • contractual considerations; • on hire • under contract • selection of lifting equipment suitable for the load and conditions; • examination and inspections • big enough to reach and lift the load? • Planning of the operation on site

9. Planning of the operation on site • Load weight, its charactersitics and lifting points • safe working load limits [SWL] • load centre of gravity • Crane duties under different configurations • selection of lifting accessories and slinging method • site hazards; • proximity hazards, eg. Power-lines, structures, other building operations, ground stability, space for maneouvring; • erection or dismantling risks; • weather [wind loading] • Lift • communications • control of raised load [tag-lines] • visibility • path of lift [work under suspended loads]

10. Thorough examination and inspection of lifting equipment • Thoroughly examined for any defect: • Competent person to draw up examination scheme, including frequency • before 1st service use but after installation • after assembly, before 1st service or at new site or location, to ensure correct installation and safe to operate • where exposed to conditions that may cause deterioration likely to result in danger, it must be examined; • passenger lifts at least every 6 months ; • other lifting equipment at least every 12 months. • After exceptional circumstances have occurred that may have adversely affected the lifting equipment 11