All work activities come with some degree of risk – even simply sitting at a desk or stocking shelves in a store. But some have more immediate and higher levels of risks, and this is especially true of lifting operations. They involve hoisting, moving, and suspending loads that potentially weigh a tremendous amount, with sizeable equipment that if not properly operated and supervised can be dangerous.
People could be put in harm’s way if operations and equipment aren’t geared for safety. Lifting equipment could be susceptible to rapid wear and tear – and therefore risk of failure – due to the nature of operations and conditions to which it is exposed, if inspections aren’t regular and thorough.
The ongoing inspection of lifting equipment and operations is therefore of great importance. If you work with lifting equipment you need to be aware of what the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (1998) require of you to make sure health and safety isn’t compromised.
Purchasing pristine equipment and assuming it’ll run perfectly for 10 years without checking it and monitoring its use is just asking for trouble. All equipment faces general wear and tear no matter how careful you think you’re being during operations: that’s just nature. Furthermore, operations need to be carefully planned and overseen to be safe and effective.
By carrying out regular inspections of various aspects of lifting operations and equipment, risks can be easily minimised and managed.
There are several areas that should be considered during an inspection. Keeping lifting equipment and operations safe requires more than just physically looking at equipment.
The surrounding area, people involved in the operation, and other processes impact on the lifting operation and the effectiveness of lifting equipment just as much as the physical integrity of the equipment itself.
Areas to cover during an inspection include:
Our LOLER Training will provide you with a strong awareness of what LOLER requires. It includes information on how to assess risks, how to select suitable lifting equipment, how to maintain the equipment, and the importance of thoroughly planning operations.
There are two levels of inspection that need to be carried out internally:
A competent person is someone who has the necessary knowledge, training, and experience required to fulfil their role. In relation to LOLER, the competent person should have practical and theoretical knowledge of the lifting equipment used by the business. Although they can be a member of your staff or someone employed externally, they should not be the same person who carries out routine maintenance.
Pre-use checks – which are not as exhaustive as a thorough examination (they basically involve checking that there are no obvious faults or defects) – should be carried out prior to each use of lifting equipment. This could vary in frequency to once a week to a couple of times a day depending on how often the equipment is operated.
However, thorough examinations have more specific intervals. Meeting these requirements means meeting LOLER, and in turn meeting good health and safety standards and keeping people free from harm.
By adhering to LOLER regulations and carrying out regular inspections of both equipment and operations, you will ensure that people’s wellbeing is not compromised and equipment does not degrade faster than it should. Equipment will be able to perform at its maximum capacity and operations will be able to proceed smoothly and safely.
