Hoist Slings Considerations on the management of hoist sling

Regulations that apply Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) These Regulations place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment including through examination of the “whole lifting system”. Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) covers all work equipment, lifting equipment is also work equipment so the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations will also apply, including inspection and maintenance.

Thorough Examination Organisations can use in-house engineers as long as they are suitably competent individuals, They must also be suitably independent & impartial to allow objective decisions to be made. Most organisation use external companies and to perform their LOLER thorough examinations and this is often the hoist & sling manufacturer.

Organisations arraignments usually including an annual service of the hoist including the replacement of consumable parts and the separate LOLER through examination. The organisation is required to keep record of servicing and LOLER through examination for a period of 2 years. Thorough Examination

Are sling covered by LOLER? Yes! “Equipment and operations covered by LOLER Lifting accessories would include such items as slings, removable eyebolts, chains, ropes, shackles, grabs, magnets, vacuum lifters, crane forks, lifting beams and spreaders.” Reference:- Safe use of lifting equipment Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 HSE L113 (Second edition) Published 2014

Question Hands up who knows if their organisation has a system for the thorough examination of hoist slings by a independently and competent person? What About Slings?

A Welsh Health Board was issued a notice regarding a large number of slings that the laundry labels had washed out. HSE advised important information was missing particularly the safe working load of the sling. The slings in question had not failed and were in good physical working order. It was also recognised that even through thorough examinations were being performed by nursing staff before each and every use. There was no formal organisational wide system, certificates for each sling or a central data base of slings? Health and Safety Executive Notice 2014

Large numbers of slings were condemned and replaced. To protect the sling resource for the future. All slings were fitted with a rubber tag replicating the laundry label including recording the safe working load. All slings thoroughly examined as safe could then continue to be used after the laundry label had washed out. The Health Board extended its hoist service and LOLER Thorough Examination contract to include all hoist slings.

Durable Rubber Tags on Slings

Robust management arraignments should include Always follow the manufacturers washing instructions. Ensure slings are “Thoroughly Examined” in line with LOLER 1998 Clinicians should continue to thoroughly Examine sling before each and every use.

Guidance:- Getting to grips with hoisting people HSE