FAQs Further to Covid-19 Crisis - LOLER Inspections

Wednesday, 8th April 2020

Our trainers have been busy talking to our clients and delegates with advice on moving and handling and risk assessment issues which have arisen as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

In response to some of these conversations we have put together a new Information Sheet in our online Resources Library for EDGE-trained key trainers, which addresses some of the questions asked most frequently. We are also making this information public, via our news pages, in the hope that other health care, social care and special educational needs staff might find the advice useful during this difficult time.

Our LOLER inspections are due now – what should we do?

The following statement has come directly from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on this subject:

“Following the Government’s recent announcement of measures designed to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, HSE is aware of concerns relating to the examination of equipment that is subject to statutory inspection time limits. The Health and Safety Executive enforces several pieces of legislation that contain requirements for time-bound statutory inspections, including the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Duty-holders have a legal responsibility to maintain work equipment and carry out thorough examinations, written schemes and Statutory Inspections. These legal duties exist to help manage the significant hazard that the failure of such equipment can pose, not complying with these duties can significantly increase the risk of harm to workers and members of the public. Under certain circumstances with the agreement of a suitable competent person, some legislation does allow thorough examinations/statutory inspections to be postponed to a later date. Even if such options are taken, it remains the duty-holders responsibility to ensure that the equipment is safe to use.
If engineering companies are suffering shortages in their own resources, they should consider focusing this resource/expertise on equipment in premises where the most vulnerable are located such as hospitals, care homes and infrastructure which is essential to the running of the country.
Engineers who are working on sites where there are restrictions arising from the risk of COVID-19 infection should comply with site rules and take into account the wider Public Health England advice regarding good hygiene practices and separation distances. Consideration needs to be given to protecting the engineers but also, where relevant, any vulnerable persons who may be affected by their work.
At the current time, HSE is not considering issuing exemptions or relaxation of these requirements, but we recognise this is a fluid situation and this position is constantly under review.”

Organisations should be able to use this statement to ensure that the LOLER inspections arrangements that you will already have in place should continue as before the Covid-19 outbreak. In the meantime, it may be pertinent to remind all care and education bodies using hoists and slings that a thorough visual check of hoists and slings should be undertaken routinely as a matter of course alongside your LOLER inspections.

Mobile/General-Purpose/All-Purpose Hoist

(passive hoists)

Assuming the battery is fully charged (has been on charge for at least two hours).
Ensure that the jib/boom moves freely up and down when operated, ensure it is moving at the usual speed.
Ensure the spreader bar is moving freely round all 360 degrees.
Check the clips (where the sling attaches) on the spreader bar are tightly fixed to the boom and if a spring-loaded safety catch is present that this is fully functioning springing back into place once released.
Check the chassis is moving backwards and forwards freely, if there is a means of opening and closing the chassis ensure this is fully functioning and at the usual speed.
Check the brakes are fully operational and when applied no movement is possible for the wheels when a gentle push is applied to the handle.
Check that the battery is indicating that it is fully charged and make a note of the figures indicated on the actuator if a counter display is present.
Check the hand control is fully functioning by trying all the buttons.

General points

Check all parts of the hoist are firmly fixed, there should be no loose screws or bolts, all points of the mast should be completely immobile and firmly fixed at the top where it connects to the boom and at the base into the chassis. There should be no fraying of electrical wiring such as the lead to the hand controls.

Standing/Active Hoist

(active hoists)

Assuming the battery is fully charged (has been on charge for at least two hours).
Ensure that the arm moves freely up and down when operated, ensure it is moving at the usual speed.
Check the clips (where the sling attaches) on the arm are tightly fixed and if a spring-loaded safety catch is present that this is fully functioning springing back into place once released.
Check the knee pad and foot plates are tightly fixed, checking nothing is exposed (screws/nuts/bolts etc) that might injure the client.
Check the padding is intact on the knee pad.
If a safety belt is present on the knee pad ensure the buckle/strap is fully functioning, that it is intact with no damage to the material/canvass evident.
Check the chassis is moving backwards and forwards freely, if there is a means of opening and closing the chassis ensure this is fully functioning and at the usual speed.
Check the brakes are fully operational and when applied no movement is possible for the wheels when a gentle push is applied to the handle.
Check that the battery is indicating that it is fully charged and make a note of the figures indicated on the actuator if a counter display is present.
Check the hand control is fully functioning by trying all the buttons.

General points

Check all parts of the hoist are firmly fixed, there should be no loose screws or bolts, all points of the mast should be completely immobile and firmly fixed at the top where it connects to the arm and at the base into the chassis. There should be no fraying of electrical wiring such as the lead to the hand controls.

Hoist Slings

The most effective way to undertake a visual check of a sling is to hold it up to a very brightly lit window or against a bright light. You are observing for any holes/rips/ fraying or any other damage to the material structure and straps. The arrows on the above drawing indicate the particular weak spots where most commonly you would see this damage. These include any part of the straps, but particularly where the strap meets the main body of the sling and where the material is commonly stretched at its widest – around the aperture. However, the whole sling should be observed for any damage.

Check the label on the sling – this should be fully readable and should clearly indicate the following information:
The SWL (safe working load) of the sling.
A unique serial number.

EDGE will continue to review, amend and update our FAQ's as this pandemic continues. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the above in more detail, please contact us direct and we will be happy to help: [email protected]