SAFETY GUIDANCE

LIFTING EQUIPMENT AND LIFTING OPERATIONS

SG016.02
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The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98) calls for the
thorough examination of any equipment used for lifting. Such equipment must be easily
identified.
Definitions:
Lifting equipment
Accessories for lifting
Requirements:
Lifting equipment
Accessories for lifting

Includes cranes, mobile elevating work platforms, hoists, chain blocks,

forklift trucks, truck tail lifts, or any other piece of work equipment that
has as its principal function lifting and lowering.
Includes chains, slings, shackles, eyebolts, etc.
Must be regularly maintained, marked with its safe working load,
marked with an identifier and thoroughly examined every 12 months.
Must be marked with their safe working load, marked with an identifier
and thoroughly examined every 6 months.

Thorough examinations:
Will be carried out by a competent person. Star Refrigeration Ltd currently employ Royal and
Sun Alliance as their competent person. The competent person will produce a report of the
thorough examination. This report can be used as the schedule of equipment and accessories.
This report must be kept until the next report is made.
The following information must be readily available for each accessory or piece of lifting
equipment (including hired-in equipment).
a
The name and address of the duty holder for whom the thorough examination was made
b
The address of the premises at which the thorough examination was made
c
Sufficient information to be able to identify the equipment
d
The date of the last thorough examination
e
The date when the next thorough examination is due
f
The safe working load of the equipment or (where its safe working load depends on the
configuration of the equipment) its safe working load for each configuration.
The safe working load must be clearly marked on all lifting equipment and accessories (a
certificate of test and examination specifying safe working loads must be available on request for
all such equipment and accessories).
All equipment and accessories must be colour coded (green, blue, orange or red) to enable staff
to identify easily equipment that is within test date. At each thorough examination the competent
person should be instructed to remove existing colour code and replace it with a new colour. If
the competent person refuses then Star shall remove and fit the colour code (tie-wrap). A sign
will be prominently displayed to indicate to staff the current colour code. Equipment without a
colour code must not be used.
Staff required to use cranes in the factory and branches, and other types of lifting equipment
(chain blocks, Turfors, etc) on site, should be trained in the basic requirements for lifting and
slinging.
All lifting equipment must be serviced by specialists annually.
All lifting operations on site must be contracted out on a contract lift basis and the procedure in
RA055 followed. The only exception to the above is where the lift is simple and of limited load
such as unloading or loading palletised goods from a truck with the use of a client provided fork
lift truck and driver providing RA054 is complied with and checklist SF.815 Is completed.

SG016.00 Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations

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Employees duties:
Only those persons named in the company register of crane operators/slingers may operate a
crane or carry out slinging operations.
Only use current colour coded equipment and accessories.
Only use lifting equipment and accessories if the safe working load (SWL) is clearly displayed
and you know to what extent the SWL will be reduced by the way in which you are going to use
the equipment, and that after taking this into consideration the equipment or accessory is still
capable of taking the weight of the item being lifted.
If you find equipment or accessories without current colour coding DO NOT USE IT please return
it to your manager.
Visually inspect any lifting equipment or accessory before use and report damaged equipment to
your manager. Remove damaged equipment from service immediately. DO NOT USE IT
Return lifting equipment and accessories to safe storage after use to keep it clean and available
for inspection.
If arranging simple lifts, follow the requirements of RA054 and complete SF.815
Managers duties:
Ensure that you maintain an inventory of lifting equipment and accessories.
Ensure that you have initial load test certification for all lifting equipment and accessories.
Ensure that you have lifting equipment and accessories examined by a competent person as
detailed above.
Ensure that lifting equipment and accessories are colour coded by the competent person at each
examination and that you display prominently the current colour code.
Train those staff that use factory or branch cranes and any staff that use lifting equipment such
as chain blocks and Turfors on site in their safe use. A one day lifting and slinging course is
appropriate.
Keep a register of those staff you deem competent to operate and safely use cranes and lifting
accessories.
Ensure that lifting equipment such as cranes and hoists are serviced on an annual basis.
Provide safe storage for lifting equipment and accessories.
Ensure that any site lifting operations are carried out on a contract lift basis and in accordance
with RA055.
Ensure that where employees are arranging simple lifts that RA054 is complied with and that the
engineer completes SF.815
Ensure that damaged equipment is quarantined and repaired or destroyed.
Monitor the safe use of lifting equipment and accessories during site visits.
When hiring lifting equipment and accessories ensure that it is accompanied with written proof of
current thorough examination as above.

SG016.00 Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations

Date

Issue
00
01
02

Changes
4 colour coding system introduced

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Originator
CJH
CJH
BC