FAQs - On other Lifting Equipment

How often must Lifting Equipment and accessories be thoroughly examined?
You must have lifting equipment thoroughly examined:

before using it for the first time – unless the equipment has an EC Declaration of Conformity less than one year old and was not assembled on site. If it was assembled on site, it must be examined by a competent person to establish the assembly was correct and safe, eg a platform lift installed in a building

after assembly and before use at each location for equipment that requires assembly or installation before use, eg tower cranes

regularly in service if the equipment is exposed to conditions causing deterioration that is likely to result in dangerous situations. - at regular intervals (either at least every 6 months or 12 months depending on whether the lifting equipment is for lifting people or not); or - in accordance with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person. Accessories for lifting must be thoroughly examined either at least every 6 months or in accordance with an examination scheme.

Always have lifting equipment thoroughly examined following ‘exceptional circumstances’, eg if it is damaged or fails, is out of use for long periods, or if there is a major change in how it is used which is likely to affect its integrity  Lifting equipment should be inspected by a Competent Person under a Thorough Examination Scheme, Which allows for specific timescales of use for the equipment and conditions it is used in. Therefore if the conditions are deemed arduous (24hr operation, salt or brine atmospheres), then the timescales should be reduced according to the specifications of a Risk Assessment.