Moving materials and components in an aircraft environment

URN: SEMAER239
Business Sectors (Suites): Aeronautical Engineering Suite 2
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 2017

Overview

This standard identifies the competencies you need to move loads in an aircraft environment by slinging and lifting, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to use correctly specified items of lifting gear, which will include hand and/or power operated cranes and winches, and associated lifting accessories. You must check that the lifting equipment is within current authorisation dates, is undamaged and within the permitted safe working load (SWL). You will be expected to establish the weight of the load to be moved and attach the appropriate slings to suitable or designated lifting points on the load, in order to achieve a safe and balanced lift. You must check the area that the load will move through, to ensure that it is free from obstructions and is safe for the load to be moved. You will also be expected to give the correct hand and verbal signals during the lifting activities.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the slinging, signalling and lifting activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the slinging and lifting equipment or activities 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 the safety and integrity of the materials or items being moved. Where team working is involved, you must demonstrate a 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 applying slinging, signalling and lifting procedures within an aircraft environment. You will have an understanding of the slinging, signalling and lifting techniques used, and their application, and will know about the lifting equipment and accessories for lifting, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities safely and correctly.

You will understand the safety precautions required when slinging and lifting materials and components, and the safeguards that are necessary for undertaking the 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:

  1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
  2. position the lifting equipment so that the weight of the load is evenly distributed
  3. attach the appropriate handling equipment securely to the load, using approved methods to eliminate slippage
  4. confirm that the load is secure before moving
  5. move the load over the selected, suitable route
  6. position and release the load safely in its intended final location

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the specific safety precautions to be taken when slinging and lifting loads in an aircraft environment, and the need for ensuring load security (such as general workshop and site safety, appropriate personal protective equipment, protecting other workers during the lifting operations; accident procedure; statutory regulations, risk assessment procedures and COSHH regulations)
  2. the hazards associated with slinging and lifting of loads, and how they can be minimised
  3. the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for safe use of lifting equipment, and Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) also BS 7121
  4. the specific requirements for the marking of lifting equipment, and the specific method used by the organisation in which you are working
  5. the range of equipment to be used for the lifting operations (such as hand and power operated cranes, winches pulling equipment)
  6. the lifting equipment accessories to be used (such as slings, chains, wire ropes, eye bolts)
  7. checks that should be made on the lifting equipment prior to use, and what you should look for
  8. how to carry out visual in-service inspections of the equipment, and what to do should any defective equipment be identified
  9. factors which affect the selection of the lifting equipment and lifting accessories (such as weight, centre of gravity, type of load, operating environment)
  10. how to check that the lifting equipment is capable of lifting the load to be moved
  11. how to plan and prepare a route for moving loads, and the hazards that you will need to take into account
  12. the specific requirements for the organisation of lifting operations
  13. signalling techniques used to communicate with crane drivers (to include hand signals and verbal commands)
  14. how lifting equipment should be stored and handled
  15. the extent of your own responsibility, and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve

Scope/range


Scope Performance

  1. Ensure that the equipment to be used is suitable for the materials, machinery or components being lifted, and is in a safe and usable condition, by establishing all of the following:

    1. that the equipment is certified and is compliant, within current test dates (such as LOLER regulations and **health and safety requirements)
    2. that all slings are free from obvious defects
    3. that the lifting equipment selected is suitable and has a sufficient SWL for the application
    4. that the identification number and SWL are clearly marked on the equipment selected
    5. that, where applicable, the equipment is correctly colour coded
  2. Before slinging, lifting or moving the load, ensure that all of the following, have been established/checked:

    1. weight of the load                                    
    2. agreed code of verbal/hand signals
    3. route of the load is clear                         
    4. precautions are in place in case of spillage
    5. those affected have been informed         
    6. arrangements are made for securing/storing in landing place
    7. landing/storage area is clear
  3. Use two of the following lifting and moving methods and technique:

    1. crane                                     
    2. lifting appliances                    
    3. hand operated lifting equipment
    4. winch                                    
    5. pulling appliances                  
    6. jacks, skates and trolleys
    7. powered lifting equipment      
    8. low loaders
  4. Use two of the following slinging methods:

    1. single leg slings        
    2. two-leg slings     
    3. three- and four-leg slings
    4. lifting beams
    5. spreaders
  5. Move two of the following types of load:

    1. sheet materials
    2. aircraft major assemblies
    3. other stock materials
    4. plant/machinery
    5. aircraft sub-assemblies
    6. test equipment
    7. access structures
    8. loads with evenly distributed weight
    9. liquid containers (such as drums)
    10. loads with unevenly distributed weight
    11. fragile components
    12. awkward shapes
    13. hot/radiant/toxic/corrosive
    14. other specific loads
  6. Move loads safely and correctly, and re-position in two of the following conditions:

    1. in the same elevation                                
    2. turning a load
    3. to differing elevations                                
    4. transferring a load
    5. as part of an assembly operation               
    6. move to store as unit/part assembly

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

Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

2020

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Semta

Original URN

SEMAER2-39

Relevant Occupations

Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Professionals, Science and Engineering Technicians

SOC Code

5234

Keywords

Aeronautical; Engineering; slinging and lifting; safe working load (SWL); crane; winch; powered lifting equipment; jacks; skates and trolleys; low loaders; lifting appliances; pulling appliances