Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components
Overview
This standard identifies the competencies you need to move loads 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) or working load limit (WLL). You will be expected to correctly estimate 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 the lifting activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with minimum supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the safety and integrity of the materials being moved.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying slinging, signalling and lifting procedures. 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 to the required specification.
You will need to understand the safety precautions required when slinging and lifting components, and the safeguards that are necessary for undertaking the activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibilities you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- position the moving equipment so that the weight of the load is evenly distributed
- attach the appropriate handling equipment securely to the load, using approved methods to eliminate slippage
- confirm that the load is secure before moving
- move the load over the selected, suitable route
- position and release the load safely in its intended final location
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when slinging and lifting loads, and the need for ensuring load security (general workshop and site safety, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), protecting other workers during the lifting operations; accident procedure; statutory requirements, risk assessment procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA, COSHH and Work Equipment Regulations; safe disposal of waste materials)
- the hazards associated with slinging and lifting of loads, and how they can be minimised
- an understanding of ACOP for safe use of lifting equipment, and Lifting Operation & Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) also BS 7121
- the specific requirements for the marking of lifting equipment, and the specific method used in the organisation in which you are working
- the range of equipment to be used for the lifting operations (such as hand and power operated cranes, winches pulling equipment)
- the lifting equipment accessories to be used (such as slings, chains, wire ropes, eye bolts)
- checks that should be made on the lifting equipment prior to use, and problems that you should look for
- how to carry out in-service inspections of the equipment, and what to do should any defective equipment be identified
- how to determine the approximate weight of the load to be moved
- factors which affect the selection of the lifting equipment and lifting accessories (such as weight, type of load, operating environment)
- how to check that the lifting equipment is capable of lifting the load to be moved
- how to determine the centre of gravity of the load, and how to determine suitable slinging and lifting points
- how to plan and prepare a route for moving loads, and the areas that you will need to take into account
- the specific requirements for the organisation of lifting operations
- signalling techniques used to communicate with crane drivers (to include both hand signals and verbal commands)
- how lifting equipment should be stored, handled and maintained
- problems that can occur with slinging, lifting and moving loads and how these can be avoided
- the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
- reporting lines and procedures, line supervision and technical experts
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Ensure that the equipment to be used is suitable for the components being lifted, and is in a safe and usable condition, by checking all of the following:
- equipment is certified and is compliant, within current test dates
- all lifting equipment registers are up to date
- all slings are free from obvious defects
- the lifting equipment selected is suitable and has a sufficient SWL/WLL for the application
- the identification number and SWL/WLL are clearly marked on the equipment selected
- the equipment selected is suitable for the environment of operation
Use two of the following lifting and moving methods and techniques:
- crane
- lifting appliances
- hand operated lifting equipment
- winch
- pulling appliances
- powered lifting equipment
- multi-sheaved block combinations
- jacks, skates and trolleys
Use two of the following slinging methods:
- single-leg slings
- two-leg slings
- three- and four-leg slings
Move two of the following types of loads:
- sheet materials
- pipes, bars, joists (single and in bundles)
- fragile items
- hot/radiant items
- components with evenly distributed weight
- components with uneven distributed weight
- awkward shaped loads
- corrosive substances/chemicals
Move loads safely and correctly, to be re-positioned in two of the following positions:
- to differing elevations
- along the same elevation
- as part of an assembly
- turn a load
- through complex rigging operations
Find the weight and Centre of Gravity (C of G) of the materials/loads to be moved using all of the following:
- check against documentation
- calculation from drawings
- by estimation
- by converting metric-imperial
- supplied information on the load itself
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