Health & Safety

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 , also referred to as HASAW or HSW, is the primary piece of enabling legislation covering occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom. All work related activities are generally covered by this Act but specific areas it has been enhanced by the introduction of further regulations. The principal resulting regulations bearing on platform lifts are LOLER and a lesser extent PUWER.

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act).

Places over arching responsibilities on employees to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions and to co-operate with others in all circumstances. This extends to premises such as shopping centres, hospitals, offices and shops. It also includes the provision of facilities for use by the public.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998)

LOLER replaced existing legal requirements relating to the use of lifting equipment and aims to reduce risks to people's health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at work. To some extent it overlaps PUWER (see below) but does not contradict it

Requirements:

Strong and stable enough for designated use Marked to indicate safe working loads. Positioned and installed in a manner reflecting recognized risks. Used safely, ie the work is planned, organized and performed by competent persons subject to ongoing thorough examination (every six months) and, where appropriate, inspection by competent persons together with, a report is submitted by the competent person to the employer to take the appropriate action. Lifting operations must be planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner by competent persons. The provision of adequate instructions.

Application:

Cranes, fork-lift trucks, lifts, platform lifts, hoists, mobile elevating work platforms, and vehicle inspection platform hoists. Ancillary equipment ie, includes any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. Lifting accessories such as chains, slings, eyebolts etc.

Exclusions:

Items which are covered by more specific legislation, Escalators and conventional lifts. ie the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. For use by:- Employees including, teachers, welfare staff, shop assistants and nurses.

Applicable to:

Employer or self-employed person providing lifting equipment for use at work, or control the use of lifting equipment. The duty holder will normally be the building occupant

PUWER (Provision and Use of Work equipment Regulations 1998)

PUWER deals with work equipment in a similar manner to LOLER's treatment of its topic. It has less relevance to platform lifts as they will be the subject of LOLER. However if a lifting platform falls within its scope the full rigors of this regulation must be applied.