crane safety overview

Lifting Operations and Crane Safety

The law says that all lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a safe manner. (HSE)

So, as a main contractor it would be reasonable to mitigate risk to elect for a Contract Lift where the duty to Plan, Manage and execute the lift will be devolved to someone else. However more and more main contractors are sending managers on Appointed persons’ course so that they are more familiar with lifting plans and the methodology around lifting.

Question: Is a newly qualified Appointed Person with no previous experience in lifting competent to assess a competent lifting company’s technical lifting plan and methodology?

In our experience, of carrying out audits and accident investigations, they may not be, and in some cases, that little knowledge has been a causal factor in an accident.

Question: As a main contractor of Client do you know what your responsibilities you are directly involved with in a crane operation?

Question: Why as a Main Contractor would you wish to Supervise a lift?

Question: What is the purpose of ‘Approving’ a lifting plan/methodology prior to work commencing?

HSE studies have found that uninsured costs outweigh those covered by insurance policies.

Question: What is the standard cover for crane lifts?

Directors and managers can be held personally responsible for failures to control health and safety. Can you afford such failures? Do you manage Crane and other Lifting Operations effectively?

Simmons provides workshops for Directors, Project Managers, Health and Safety Practitioners in the safe management of lifting operations and where we can provide the answers to the questions posed above.