Lifting Equipment Safety and Operations

Industry Relevant Definitions

• Minimum Breaking (or Failure) Load: The specified load (mass or force) below which the equipment does not fail, either by fracture or distortion causing load release.
• Multipurpose Equipment: Designed to a standard specification, capable of lifting various loads up to the marked safe working load (SWL), suited for multiple applications.
• Operative: Trained person operating the equipment.
• Rated Capacity: Maximum gross load the lifting appliance can lift in any configuration, often used interchangeably with working load limit for lifting accessories.
• Proof or Test Load: A load (mass or force) applied by a Competent Person to test the equipment. This load is recorded on examination reports and test certificates. Proof load tests verify new equipment and post-installation functionality.
• Single Purpose Equipment: Designed for a dedicated purpose; used for a specific load in a specific environment.
• Report of Test: (Formerly "test certificate") A report by a competent person detailing test specifics; not a legal document for use authorization unless supporting documents, such as EC Declarations of Conformity or Manufacturers Certificates, are also involved.

Verification

• Verification: Description of procedures manufacturers or competent people undertake to guarantee the equipment meets legal requirements and operation safety standards. It includes proof load tests, sample breaks, non-destructive tests, calculations, measurements, and thorough examinations to confirm compliance with standards and specifications. Verification methods vary by new equipment standards.

Report of a Thorough Examination

• A thorough examination report, also known as a report of thorough inspection or periodic inspection, records results of a thorough examination undertaken by a competent person (including testing if applicable). The report details reported defects or states fitness for continued use. Thorough examination reports are important recordkeeping documents. References to test reports can be included as appendices to thorough examination reports in some instances.

Safe (Specific application) Working Load (SWL)

• Safe Working Load (SWL): The maximum load (mass) a competent person assesses for lifting equipment in specific service conditions. It's marked on the equipment and included in official records. In some areas, "safe" is not used; instead, the term "specific application" is used, with SWL used throughout the document. The SWL is often the same value as the working load limit (WLL), maximum safe working load, or rated capacity.

WLL (Working Load Limit)

• Working Load Limit (WLL): Maximum load (mass) a piece of lifting equipment is designed to lift, lower, or suspend. WLL can sometimes be referred to as maximum SWL in certain standards or documents. WLL is commonly used for lifting accessories, while lifting appliances use rated capacity more frequently now.

Risk Assessment

• Risk Assessment: A 5-step process used to control workplace hazards.
  • Step 1: Identify all hazards in the workplace.
  • Step 2: Determine who might be harmed and how.
  • Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
  • Step 4: Record findings and put precautions in place for all hazards.
  • Step 5: Review the findings periodically due to continuous changes in equipment/processes.

Identifying People at Risk

• Identifying people at risk includes workers doing specific activities, but also those affected by these activities, such as nearby staff (maintenance, contractors), passersby, cleaners, security, and visitors to the site.

Control Measures

• Prioritizing the avoidance or elimination of risks is the first approach.
• The hierarchy of control measures from most to least preferred is:
  • Eliminate
  • Reduce (time of exposure)
  • Isolate (segrgation, personnel, lock-out/tag-out)
  • Control (engineering, administrative, safe systems of work)
  • PPE (personal protective equipment)
  • Discipline (ensuring compliance with control measures)