Selecting the right equipment

LOLER requires that lifting equipment must be of adequate strength and stability. They implemented that lifting equipment should be positioned or installed in such a way as to reduce the risk, as far as reasonably practicable, of the equipment or load striking a person or of the load drifting, falling freely, or being unintentionally released.

Therefore, it is crucial for companies to ensure they use the appropriate lifting equipment for the correct load. Operating lifting equipment below the object's load exponentially increases the associated hazards. To solidify safe procedures for operating the lifting equipment, establishments can employ safe work method statements for a more standardized and safe flow of activities.

Marking of lifting equipment

To continue ensuring the proper lifting equipment is used, LOLER strictly requires companies and establishments to clearly mark lifting equipment and their accessories with their safe working loads (SWL). A safe working load is the maximum load that a piece of lifting equipment can carry. Additionally, it is important to display the lifting configuration and its maximum load. This feature helps operators see and know the proper lifting method for each specific configuration.

For machines that lift people, the maximum number of individuals allowed on that lift should clearly be seen (e.g., elevators), in addition to the safe working load. Furthermore, lifts that are not designed for people but have the potential to be used in the wrong way should be placed with marked signs that indicate that they are not meant for them.

Inspection

Any lifting equipment should also undergo necessary inspections and maintenance to guarantee its safety. Because of this, LOLER requires the following:

• Users can have to do routine inspections (like for lift trucks) or basic pre-use inspections (like for lifting chains and slings).
• In some situations, inspections and checks should be performed often, usually once a week, but they may also be performed monthly or quarterly (for example, when a crane operator does checks).
• Employers are responsible for making sure that lifting equipment is inspected carefully, usually once or twice a year, but in some situations this may be more or less regular.

These checks are required by LOLER to ensure the continued safe use of the lifting equipment. To further understand the inspection process needed by LOLER, the HSE's thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment explain the whole process.

LOLER training and competence

Since inspections are part of the regulatory requirements of LOLER, the person conducting the inspection should be qualified, have ample experience, and have undergone the necessary training. As per LOLER, the person carrying out a thorough examination has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment.

On the other hand, this should not be the same individual who engages in normal maintenance of the equipment, since they would then be accountable for evaluating the maintenance work that they themselves have performed.

Risk assessments and safety precautions

Finding and evaluating risk is essential when organizing any lifting operation in order to choose the best tools and techniques for the task.  A risk assessment assists in identifying possible dangers, assessing the degree of risk, and choosing the best management strategies to lessen those risks. Employers can see any problems and take the required action to avoid mishaps and injuries by carrying out a thorough risk assessment.

To have an effective risk assessment, LOLER suggests that employers should take into account a number of variables while conducting one, including the load's weight and stability, the state of the lifting apparatus, the skill of the workers performing the lifting operation, and the surrounding environment. Employers are required by the assessment to put in place necessary safety measures.

Record-Keeping

As required by LOLER, it is important to maintain records of all comprehensive inspections and exams, as well as declarations of conformity for all lifting equipment and lifting accessories involved in the lifting process. The appropriate enforcement body is likely to request this information during regulatory audits conducted in your enterprises.
In addition to being a statutory necessity, these records may assist establishments in identifying areas of success and areas for improvement, which they can then employ to either sustain or further develop their operations. Documentation in its entirety has the potential to contribute to the preservation and advancement of workplace safety.