Think more before buying
August 1st 2007

Choosing the right solution is critical, says Derrick Bailes, chief executive, Lifting Equipment Engineers Association. Yet many buyers still issue specifications which amount to little more than a safe working load and a vague description of the type of equipment required

Since the introduction of manual handling regulations in 1992, there has been a significant increase in the use of lifting equipment and associated accessories across a wide range of industries and applications. However, while greater mechanisation can undoubtedly minimise the risks inherent in manual handling, the use of equipment can also bring with it new dangers. If the wrong choices are made, lifting equipment has the potential to cause serious injuries, and damage to the load, buildings and plant.

Rigorous specification is therefore vital if employers want to ensure that legal requirements are met, workplace safety is improved, and productivity enhanced.

For each individual application, buyers must consider all the relevant factors and take reasonable steps to ensure that the equipment in question is fit for purpose. In very broad terms, the buyer should be able to explain clearly the requirements of the lifting operation, the characteristics of the load and the proposed manner in which the equipment is to be used. The buyer should also warn the supplier of adverse environmental factors such as extremes of temperature, humidity, dirty conditions or the danger of chemical attack and/or a corrosive atmosphere. To establish a duty rating, the frequency of use and average loadings should also be determined, where possible. An assessment should be made of the distance and plane of movement required, the accuracy with which the loads must be positioned, whether it is a temporary or on-going requirement, the need for a suspension point/structure, the headroom and working space available, and the availability of electrical and/or compressed air supplies.

The choice between manual or powered operation is clearly one of the major decisions. The effort required to operate a hand chain block, for example, varies greatly depending on the unit but can be considerable. Lifting speeds on such devices are invariably slow, but precise control over the load is generally possible.

If a suitable power supply is available and the application involves frequent lifting operations, heavy loads, or the requirement for relatively fast speeds, then the powered option is likely to be more appropriate.

However, speed must not be at the expense of control.

Under current UK legislation, employers have considerable duties to uphold with regard to the provision of equipment for use at work. In common with many other industries, the era of globalisation has seen the arrival of some very low cost lifting and handling devices. However, buyers must never assume that the presence of a CE mark and some form of certification are in themselves evidence that lifting equipment is fit for the application in question. Cost will inevitably play a role, but it should never be the sole criteria for selection. In this respect, the possibility of short-term hire rather than outright purchase should not be overlooked.

In creating a robust specification, an understanding of the scope and status of relevant standards will put buyers in a strong position. Harmonised European Standards (CEN) are particularly useful in this respect. Significantly, they have a quasi-legal status, in that a product made to the relevant harmonised standard is deemed to meet the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive in so far as it addresses them.

They therefore represent an extremely effective means of ensuring an appropriate level of quality. In situations where an appropriate CEN does not exist, buyers are best advised to insist on compliance with a suitable national standard.

Feedback from suppliers suggests that many of the specifications issued by buyers still amount to little more than a safe working load and a vague description of the type of equipment required. In some cases, this may simply mean that the customer ends up wasting money on a product that underperforms in terms of speed and efficiency. Unfortunately, the results are sometimes more serious, as lastminute attempts to cannibalise equipment to suit a load are a common factor in many lifting-related accidents. In almost all these instances, a little more time spent on identifying the right product solution would have saved both time and money in the long run, and minimised the dangers posed to staff.

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