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Guide to Crane Testing and Legal Requirements
As a responsible site manager you should have your cranes tested to maintain safety standards. This common sense attitude to Crane Safety and Crane Testing is actually a legal requirement, which is set down in several different pieces of legislation. What laws affect Crane Safety and Crane Testing? Several laws have an impact this area, these are the most significant: • Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), 1998 • Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation (PUWER), 1998 • Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974 • Construction (Lifting Operations), 1961 What is LOLER? LOLER are the main laws about Crane – and other lifting equipment – Testing. They determine how often examinations must be carried out and what steps must be taken to ensure safety. The other laws all contribute to the guidelines that you must comply with when using and examining cranes. How do these legal requirements affect Crane Testing? These regulations state that lifting equipment must undergo thorough testing before use and after major modifications to load bearing parts. The exact procedures and frequency of checks after initial Crane Testing can be decided by a competent and impartial examiner. This ongoing examination and inspection is a key area affecting Crane Testing. While the examiner can decide how often tests must be carried out they do have a responsibility to do so within certain time periods: Thorough examination and inspection must be carried out at least every 6 months on cranes that lift people. Cranes that do not lift people must undergo checks at least every 12 months. Significantly, detailed records need to be kept. This is your proof that you are meeting your legal obligations. Testing by Condor Test Weights All of our examiners are fully trained in the practice of Crane Testing. When hiring our Tower Crane Testing Services or Mobile Crane Testing Services you will be making use of a competent examiner, who is completely impartial. We make recommendations and complete safety records based solely on what happens during the test process. That means you can be confident that your lifting gear meets all legal requirements. If you need any further advice please contact us. Our friendly helpful staff will be happy to answer your questions. |
Crane Testing and Legal Requirements |