The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
1998 (HSE
Publication - L113) aim to reduce the risks to people's
health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at
work.
Definition of lifting equipment
Regulation 2 (1) - defines 'lifting equipment' as 'work
equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its
attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it'.
Lifting equipment includes such equipment as cranes, fork lift
trucks, goods lifts, vehicle inspection hoists, mobile elevating
platforms, ropes, bell hoists, vehicle tail lifts, chain slings,
eyebolts, MAGNETS that are used as Lifting Equipment etc.The
regulations apply whether the equipment is new, second hand, leased
or existing. Escalators are not covered by LOLER, but by the
Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992
Employers/Self employed Duties
Employers and self employed must ensure:
- Ensure the initial integrity of the equipment and the continued
integrity of the equipment
- Ensure the safe operation of the equipment
- Ensure that the equipment is suitable for its intended use:
marked with Safe Working Load and any other relevant information
i.e. used for lifting people
- Plan all lifting operations - all operations to be assessed for
risk, procedures must be in place prior to any lifting or lowering
of equipment.
Organising Lifting Operations
Regulation 8 requires the following:
- The operation must be properly planned
- This is to be done by a competent person
- The operation must be appropriately supervised
- All work must be carried out in a safe manner - look out
for:
Suspended loads - where are people working? - If the load
fell?
The continuing integrity of equipment, The attaching and detaching
of loads
Proximity hazards, Pre-use check, DO NOT overload
Be aware of causes of over-turning and ensure this does not
happen
Visibility - ensure you can see what is happening
Thorough examination and Inspection
Regulation 9 requires all equipment must
be thoroughly examined by a competent person:
- Initially
- After installation
- In use
- When exceptional circumstances occur
Thorough examination
Lifting Equipment (Including accessories) may need
to be thoroughly examined by a competent person when it is in use
at periods specified in the regulations:
At least 6 monthly for accessories and equipment used for
lifting people At a minimum of annually for other equipment
Or at intervals laid down in an examination scheme drawn up by a
competent person. The examinations need to take into account the
conditions under which the equipment is used, the loads that are
lifted and associated aspects of the lifting operation e.g. the
frequency of lifts . The competent person to the employer must
submit a report of the thorough examination
Further Information
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974: Duties to employees
and
non-employees:
HSE Webpage - HSWA
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
(LOLER) 1998 -
HSE
Publication - L113
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
(LOLER) 1998 - Open Learning Guidance:
HSE
Publication - Open Guidance
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
(LOLER) 1998 - Simple Guide (INDG290):
HSE Publication -
INDG290
Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 (L21): Risk assessments, emergency
arrangements etc:
HSE
Publication - L21
Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998 (L22): Equipment provided for
use at
work: HSE
Publication - L22
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
1992 (L25): Employers must provide appropriate protective
clothing and equipment e.g. Safety footwear, hi visibility clothing
etc: HSE
Publication - L25
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (L23):
Guidance on the regulations:
HSE
Publication - L23