The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006

Organisation of lifting operations U.K.

10.—(1) The employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is—

(a) properly planned;

(b) appropriately supervised;

(c) carried out in a safe manner.

(2) The employer shall ensure that no lifting operation is begun using equipment which is mobile or can be dismantled unless he is satisfied that the lifting equipment will remain stable during use under all foreseeable conditions and taking account of the nature of the surface on which it stands.

(3) The employer shall ensure that adequate and effective procedures and safety measures are established to secure the safety of workers during lifting operations, in particular—

(a) that where two or more pieces of work equipment are used for lifting non-guided loads in such a way that their working radii could overlap, they shall include measures for the avoidance of collision between the loads, the work equipment, or of one with the other;

(b) that where two or more pieces of work equipment for lifting non-guided loads are used simultaneously to lift a single load, there is adequate and effective coordination between the respective operators of the equipment;

(c) where the lifting equipment cannot maintain its hold on the load in the event of a complete or partial power failure;

(d) so that, so far as is reasonably practicable, loads are not carried or suspended over areas occupied by workers, and where this is not reasonably practicable, a safe system of work is established, including adequate surveillance, to minimise the risks to workers who may need to be below the load;

(e) if the operator of lifting equipment cannot observe the full path of the load, either directly or by means of auxiliary devices, a responsible person has appropriate means of communication to guide the operation;

(f) that work is organised in such a way that when a worker is attaching or detaching a load by hand, the operation can be carried out safely, in particular through the worker retaining direct or indirect control of the work equipment;

(g) measures are taken to prevent the load striking anything or any person;

(h) that lifting operations are halted where meteorological conditions deteriorate to the point that they could affect the safe use of the lifting equipment or expose persons to danger;

and that such lifting operations are not carried out unless the procedures and safety measures are applied.

(4) In this regulation “lifting operation” means an operation concerned with the lifting or lowering of a load.