Hoisting equipment hire can be incredibly advantageous in several different industries and workplace scenarios. Hiring hoisting equipment correctly will help you to maximise efficiencies, productivity, and profitability no matter the type of business that you run. The planning stages of any project or business where there is a requirement for the hiring of hoisting equipment, or any type of rigging or safe lifting equipment hire is crucial. This is where it pays off to have a strong relationship with a professional hoisting equipment hire company, who can advise you on the correct equipment to hire, and the right setup to take for any given situation.
Another aspect of hoisting and lifting equipment hire that you must put under strong consideration is those relating to the many rules and regulations surrounding the industry. Health and safety is massively important throughout the country, in many different areas of work and industry. They can be confusing if you are not entirely sure about hoisting equipment, so it is best to have support from a lifting hire service with the experience and know-how to help you make the correct choices at all times.
The planning stage is critical to safe use of hoisting equipment, with the regulations known as LOLER (The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations). These have been put in place to ensure that any business or organisation where employees or contractors are required to operate lifting or hoisting equipment comply with these regulations.
What this means in practice is that any lifting or hoisting operation must be fully and properly planned by a ‘competent person’ along LOLER regulations. It also means that all lifting equipment must be examined on a regular basis by a qualified technician to ensure that it is fully operational. Any faults must be repaired, and the lifting equipment regularly maintained, and it is the responsibility of the business that owns or rents hoisting equipment to comply with these regulations and make sure that examinations take place.
After each examination records must be made for each piece of hoisting equipment, with a clear audit trail to adequately see the history of a piece of equipment and to validate its use and safety on any future jobs. The maintenance of lifting equipment and machinery on a routine level does not come under LOLER, and should be performed regularly by the employer. LOLER certified inspections cover the more thorough examinations.
LOLER was brought in after it was passed in 1998, replacing the Construction and Use (Lifting) regulations of 1961. The previous law stated that lifting equipment must be tested with an overload every 4 years. LOLER applies every time lifting equipment is used on business premises, and this must be taken into account during the planning phases of any project where lifting and hoisting will be required. Every case is different of course, and should be planned carefully based on the very specific circumstances being faced, utilising the LOLER framework to ensure high health and safety standards.
