Moving materials and components in a marine environment
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to move loads by slinging and lifting, in a marine environment, 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 establish the weight of the load to be moved and to 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 able to give the correct hand, radio 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 to instructions, either alone or in conjunction with others, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the safety and integrity of the materials or items being moved.
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 a marine 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 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
- 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 regulations, risk assessment procedures and COSHH regulations)
- the hazards associated with slinging and lifting of loads and how they can be minimised
- an understanding of the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for safe use of lifting equipment and Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) also BS7121
- 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 what you should look for
- how to carry out visual in-service inspections of the equipment and what to do should any defective equipment be identified
- 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 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 hand signals, radio and verbal commands)
- how lifting equipment should be stored and handled
- why tool/equipment control is critical and what to do if a tool or piece of equipment is unaccounted for on completion of the activities
- the problems that can occur with slinging, lifting and moving loads and how these can be avoided
- 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 materials, machinery or components being lifted and is in a safe and usable condition, by establishing all of the following:
- the equipment is certified and is compliant, within current test dates (such as LOLER regulations and health and safety requirements)
- 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 is correctly colour coded (where applicable)
Before slinging, lifting or moving the load, ensure that all of the following, have been established/checked:
- weight of the load
- agreed code of verbal/hand signals
- route of the load is clear
- precautions are in place in case of spillage
- those affected have been informed
- arrangements are made for securing/storing in the landing place
- landing/storage area is clear
Use two of the following lifting and moving methods and techniques:
- crane
- lifting appliances
- winch
- pulling appliances
- capstan
- multi-sheaved block combinations
- powered lifting equipment
- low loaders
- hand operated lifting equipment
- jacks, skates and trolleys
Use two of the following slinging methods:
- single leg slings
- three- and four-leg slings
- spreaders
- lifting beams
- two-leg slings
Move two of the following types of loads:
- sheet materials
- access structures
- pipes, bars, joists, such as (single and/or in bundles)
- components/machinery with evenly distributed weight
- components/machinery with unevenly distributed weight
- liquid containers (such as drums)
- fragile components
- hot/radiant/toxic/corrosive
- fabricated units
- irregularly shaped objects
- sub-assemblies
Move loads safely and correctly and re-position in two of the following conditions:
- to differing elevations
- as part of an assembly
- in the same elevation
- rotate a load
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
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