Lifting gear available for the construction industry is hugely varied owing to the
specific nature of certain jobs, as all lifting gear is produced with a specific purpose in mind.
All lifting gear regardless of manufacturer needs to be built to and tested to confirm with statutory regulations.
Manriding and lifting accessories need to be thoroughly inspected every 6 months and lifting equipment must be inspected every 12 months under LOLER. LOLER stands for Lifting Operations, Lifting Equipment Regulations and was brought in, in December 1998.
There are a few key points you must consider when looking to hire out lifting equipment to ensure you stay within the law, here are a few
Does the equipment have a valid test certificate?
Do your staff posses the correct skills to operate the equipment?
Has a risk assessment been carried for the task?
Is the equipment you have chosen actually suitable for the task being undertaken?
If you are unsure of any of the above questions or are wondering if there is anything else you need to be aware of you are best to contact a reputable lifting equipment provider. As they have experience within the industry it is advised (even if you are confident of your set up) to run things passed them just to make sure. For example you may believe the equipment you plan to hire is suitable for the job in hand but an expert may be able to steer you in a direction you may have not considered.
As well as LOLER, PUWER also came in to force in December 1988 and this stands for Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. The PUWER regulations are very closely linked to LOLER and it imposes duties on employers/the self employed in respect to the use of work equipment, with this in mind there are some additional points to the ones above which you will want to consider
Has the equipment been maintained regularly?
Does it conform to all relevant directives set by the E.C.?
Have all operating staff received adequate training?
Are relevant instructional materials readily available to staff?
Is the equipment suited to the conditions in which it will be operating?
Does the equipment have the potential to affect the Health and Safety of the person operating it?
As helpful as we have intended for this article to be it is no substitute for putting your exact requirements to a lifting gear expert to find out their view. As well as their opinion on the correct gear to use for the job they will also be able to give you guidance on the safety side of things.