Lifting equipment includes any equipment used for lifting and lowering loads, including the attachments used for anchoring, fixing, or supporting them. During a recent routine inspection of lifting equipment onboard a UK marine aggregate dredger, it was noted that some lifting equipment items were damaged, these items were removed from use. This safety alert has been developed to provide lifting equipment users with guidance on how to take good care of equipment, and to ensure that the Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) requirements and employees’ general duties under the HSW Act & Management of health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 are met.

All ships are provided with a copy of Maritime & Coastguard Agency Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COWSP). Chapter 19 provides safe working practices about lifting equipment and operations.

Precaution when using lifting equipment:

• Ensure that all accessories are properly certificated and tested before use
• Ensure that all lifting equipment are properly inspected by a competent person at regular intervals
• Ensure the safe working load (SWL) is clearly marked
• Ensure inspections are carried out prior to use
• No repair to accessories on site
• Ensure lifting equipment is not used for purposes not intended
• Ensure that lifting equipment is properly stored after use
• Ensure that lifting equipment is used by trained persons
• Do not overload lifting equipment
• Do not use faulty or damaged equipment.

Do 

• Use only certified lifting equipment, marked with it’s safe working load, which is not overdue for examination
• Keep the reports of thorough examination as well as any declarations of conformity or test certificates
• Make sure the load is properly attached to the lifting equipment. If necessary, securely bind the load to prevent it slipping or falling off
• Before lifting an unbalanced load, find out its centre of gravity. Raise it a few inches off the ground and pause – there should be little harm if it drops
• Use packaging to prevent sharp edges of the load from damaging slings and do not allow tackle to be damaged by being dropped, dragged from under the loads or subjected to sudden loads
• When using multi – slings make sure the sling angle is considered
• Remember, the load in the legs of a sling increases as the angle between the legs increases.

Do not

• Do not use unsuitable equipment, e.g., damaged, badly worn chains with knots, kinked or twisted wire ropes, frayed or rotted fibre ropes
• Do not exceed the safe working load (SWL) of any equipment like chain blocks or slings  
• Do not ever lift a load if you doubt its weight or the adequacy of the equipment.

Storage of Lifting Equipment:

Lifting equipment users should ensure that equipment is stored away on storage racks and containers after use to prevent damage. Lifting equipment should be stored in a suitable environment to prevent rusting, rotting or deterioration.

The environment will depend on the type of lifting accessory such as:

• The need for a dry atmosphere to prevent rusting

• The separation from chemicals that could have a corrosive effect on them

• Storage of artificial fibre lifting slings out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources

• Protection from attack by rodents.