Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998

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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

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Whats been lacking up to now?

• Not risk based
• Regs limited by industry - FA 1961, s.26-27
• hasnt covered all lifting equipment
• different Regs, different requirements
• contradicts Machinery directive
• http//www.towercrane.com/tower_cranes_Detail_Sele
  ct.htm

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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