Engineers with the task of moving high-technology manufacturing equipment from A to B must ensure that lifting is meticulously planned and carried out in a safe manner.
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 - commonly known as LOLER - set out the responsibilities of people and organisations who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment.
LOLER legislation covers all lifting operations in work environments. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 40,000 people have musculoskeletal disorders due to unsafe lifting operations. With this in mind, it has never been more important to understand LOLER regulations and their purpose.
In this article, we cover some key considerations of LOLER for equipment relocations, explaining their relevance to this area of engineering.
LOLER regulations were originally introduced by the Health and Safety Commission (the previous name for the HSE), to supplement the 1992 Manual Handling Regulations. Their purpose is to ensure that all work equipment used in lifting operations is safe.
The regulations are relevant for both employers and workers, placing duties on anyone who owns or operates lifting equipment.
LOLER regulations ensure that all lifting operations in the workplace which use lifting equipment are safe. The regulations require that lifting operations be planned by an experienced person who has taken and passed the LOLER Competent Person Training course.
When lifting operations are carried out, LOLER demands that they must be supervised appropriately and undertaken by an employee who is capable of completing the task in a safe way. This is to prevent the risk of injuries from moving machinery such as:
Many types of equipment covered by LOLER also fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations. Read our Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations guide here
As LOLER covers all lifting equipment used in the workplace for the lifting and lowering of loads - as well as supporting, fixing and anchoring attachments - it applies broadly to many aspects of equipment relocation in high-technology industries such as semiconductor, pharmaceutical and print.
LOLER must be considered when performing any lifting operations at the equipment’s starting location, during an equipment move, and at the destination site for the equipment.
The regulations cover standalone lifting equipment used during an equipment relocation, as well as lifting equipment attached to vehicles.
LOLER applies to equipment including:
The lifting accessories LOLER applies to include:
In equipment relocations, meeting LOLER requirements is the responsibility of personnel who a) are providing lifting equipment or b) have control over the use of lifting equipment.
Meeting LOLER requirements includes ensuring equipment is:
The following considerations must also be made by a responsible engineer:
Regular examinations of lifting equipment are required for LOLER. The regulations specify the exact interval for inspections for various types of equipment and accessories.
Equipment should undergo a comprehensive check by a competent, qualified person; that is, an individual with the experience, knowledge and relevant training to assess the safety of the equipment.
Examinations involve a thorough inspection of the lifting equipment to check for wear and defects. Anything which could affect the safe operation of the equipment should be considered. Equipment should be suitable for its intended use and comply with all LOLER requirements. Any identified issues should be rectified by the provider or user of the lifting equipment, before the equipment is operated again.
Training is part of complying with LOLER. The purpose of training is to equip personnel involved with lifting equipment operations with the right skills and knowledge to work safely.
To ensure lifting equipment is used safely in equipment relocations and other operations, it is the responsibility of employers to provide; a) adequate training for team members involved in using the equipment and b) supervision for team members involved in using the equipment.
Training includes instructions on securing loads, how equipment should be inspected, and emergency situation response. Employees’ competency is assessed by their employers to assess if they need more training. In order to keep team members up to speed with LOLER regulations and safety practices, refresher training is provided when necessary.
With IES, your high-technology equipment relocation is in experienced hands. We possess the technical knowledge and on-site skills to provide a seamless, fully-managed project.
Tell us your requirements today - use our contact form