Lifting appliances and gear

• Pages: 19-27

19

5. Lifting appliances and gear

5.1. General provisions

5.1.1. Employers should have a well-planned safety programme to ensure that

all the lifting appliances and lifting gear are selected, installed, examined, tested,

maintained, operated and dismantled:

(a) with a view to preventing the occurrence of any accident;

(b) in accordance with the requirements laid down in the national laws, regulations and

standards.

5.1.2. Every lifting appliance including its constituent elements, attachments,

anchorages and supports should be of good design and construction, sound material and

adequate strength for the purpose for which it is used.

5.1.3. Every lifting appliance and every item of lifting gear should be

accompanied at the time of purchase with instructions for use and with a test certificate

from a competent person or a guarantee of conformity with national laws and

regulations concerning:

(a) the maximum safe working load;

(b) safe working loads at different radii if the lifting appliance has a variable radius;

(c) the conditions of use under which the maximum or variable safe working loads can

be lifted or lowered.

5.1.4. Every lifting appliance and every item of lifting gear having a single safe

working load should be clearly marked at a conspicuous place with the maximum safe

working load in accordance with national laws and regulations.

5.1.5. Every lifting appliance having a variable safe working load should be

fitted with a load indicator or other effective means to indicate clearly to the driver each

maximum safe working load and the conditions under which it is applicable.

5.1.6. All lifting appliances should be adequately and securely supported; the

weight-bearing characteristics of the ground on which the lifting appliance is to operate

should be surveyed in advance of use.

Installation

5.1.7. Fixed lifting appliances should be installed:

(a) by competent persons;

(b) so that they cannot be displaced by the load, vibration or other influences;

(c) so that the operator is not exposed to danger from loads, ropes or drums;