Setting up and preparing loads for moving
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to set up and prepare loads for moving in an aircraft environment, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to access the appropriate documentation in order to assess the weight of the load to be moved, and to determine the most suitable method of moving the load and the type of equipment required. You will be expected to select the appropriate equipment, and to check that it is within current certification requirements and is in a safe and usable condition. You will be expected to prepare for moving a variety of loads, such as stock materials, sub-assemblies, major assemblies, liquid containers, corrosive and fragile materials. This will involve planning a safe route for moving the load, and ensuring that the final designated destination of the load is in a fit state to receive it.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the preparation of the moving activities, and to report any problems with the preparation activities, equipment or materials that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work either with a high level of supervision or as a member of a team, and you will take personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out. Where team working is involved, you must demonstrate significant personal contribution during the team activities, in order to satisfy the requirements of this standard, and you must demonstrate competence in all the areas required by the standard.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work, and will provide an informed approach to the preparation of loads for moving. You will have an understanding of the preparation process, and its application, and will know about the preparation requirements, equipment and materials to be used, in sufficient depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required standards.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the setting up and preparation activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout. You will also understand your responsibilities for safety, and the importance of taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
- establish the weight of the load to be moved
- determine the method and select suitable equipment to move the load
- check that the equipment to be used is capable of moving the load safely
- determine a suitable route for moving the load minimising risk to people and property
- ensure that the load is secured and protected before moving operations start
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when preparing loads for moving in an aircraft environment, and the need for ensuring load security (such as general workshop and site safety, appropriate protective equipment, protecting other workers during the lifting operations; accident procedure; statutory regulations, risk assessment procedures and COSHH regulations)
- the hazards associated with preparing loads for moving, and how they can be minimised
- the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for preparing loads for moving, and Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), also BS 7121
- the specific requirements for the marking of moving equipment, and the specific method used in the organisation in which you are working
- the range of equipment to be used for moving the load(s) (such as cranes, low loaders, fork-lift trucks)
- the lifting equipment accessories to be used (such as slings, chains, wire ropes, eye bolts)
- how to establish the weight of the load (such as by using documentation, calculation from drawings, and by estimation)
- how to establish the position of lifting points in relation to the slinging arrangements
- factors which affect the selection of the moving equipment and lifting accessories (such as weight, centre of gravity, type of load, operating environment)
- how to check that the lifting equipment is capable of lifting the load to be moved
- checks that should be made on the lifting equipment prior to use, and what you should look for that could render them unsafe to use
- how to carry out visual in-service inspections of the equipment, and what to do should any defective equipment be identified
- how to plan and prepare a route for moving loads, and the hazards that you will need to take into account
- the specific requirements for the organisation of moving equipment
- signalling techniques used to communicate with crane drivers (to include both hand signals and verbal commands)
- how lifting equipment should be handled and stored
- the extent of your own responsibility, and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Ensure that the equipment to be used is suitable for the loads being lifted, and is in a safe and usable condition, by checking all of the following:
- the equipment is certified and is compliant, within current test dates
- all slings are free from obvious defects
- the lifting equipment selected is suitable and has a sufficient safe working load (SWL) for the application
- the identification number and safe working load (SWL), are clearly marked on the equipment selected
- the equipment selected is suitable for the environment of the operation
Obtain the safe working load (SWL) and centre of gravity of the load to be moved, by using two of the following:
- load documentation
- estimation
- third party
- moving load documentation/moving procedure sheet
Establish the position of lifting points for three of the following:
- single legged sling
- four legged sling
- lifting beams
- double legged sling
- multi-legged sling
spreaders
- whilst taking into account all of the following:
- safe working load (SWL)
- angles
- tension
- sling length
Plan the moving of various types of load, to include three of the following:
- sheet materials
- aircraft major assemblies
- hot/radiant/toxic/corrosive
- other stock materials
- liquid containers (such as drums)
- plant/machinery
- aircraft sub-assemblies
- awkward shapes
- test equipment
- access structures
- fragile components
- loads with evenly distributed weight
- loads with unevenly distributed weight
- other specific loads
Plan the moving route and the final destination of the load, to include three of the following:
- differing elevations
- transferring a load
- as part of an assembly operation
- along same elevation
- turning a load
- move to store as unit/part assembly
Identify and set up suitable securing devices to ensure that the load is moved safely, using three of the following:
- shackles
- holding devices
- protection materials
- bottle screws/stays
- guide ropes
- stiffeners
- chains/wires
- seatings/fasteners
Complete the relevant documentation for recording the load moving preparation activity, to include one of the following:
- lifting procedure sheet (Competent Person I.D.)
- drawings for the moving operation
- inspection records/defect reports
- risks assessments
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Additional Information
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment