School Lifting Equipment Management Procedure

This procedure applies only where the school controls, plans or uses lifting equipment subject to thorough examination. It covers administrative arrangements and does not itself constitute physical inspection, servicing or maintenance of equipment.

1. Scope and applicability

Use this procedure where the school has or controls lifting equipment, or where people at the school are responsible for planning lifting operations or using lifting equipment in the workplace.

The person responsible for coordinating this procedure is [lifting equipment coordinator]. The relevant school location or locations are [school locations].

2. Identify equipment and responsibilities

Identify the lifting equipment within the school's control or use and record its equipment identity, location and the person responsible for it in [lifting equipment register].

Record the people responsible for planning lifting operations and using lifting equipment, including any relevant equipment owner, hirer or lessor details, in [lifting equipment responsibility record].

3. Plan lifting operations

Before a lifting operation is planned, identify the equipment to be used and the person responsible for the operation. Use the relevant HSE lifting-equipment guidance as a planning and content reference where the school controls, plans or uses lifting equipment.

Record the planned operation and the responsible person in [lifting operation plan]. This procedure does not replace any physical inspection, servicing or maintenance arrangement for the equipment.

4. Thorough examinations and examination schemes

For equipment subject to thorough examination, arrange and retain the relevant thorough-examination information and any applicable examination-scheme information in [lifting examination record].

Use the HSE lifting-equipment guidance as a reference for equipment subject to LOLER, safe lifting practices, thorough examination, examination schemes, action to take and record keeping.

5. Records

Make and retain records of thorough examinations. The record should identify the equipment and the date of the report. Store the records at [lifting examination record location].

The person responsible for maintaining the records is [lifting record owner]. Make the records available to the people responsible for the equipment and lifting operations.

6. Defects and notifications

When a thorough-examination defect is identified, report it to the person using the equipment and to the person responsible for the equipment.

Where the equipment has been hired or leased, report the defect to any person from whom it has been hired or leased. Record the notification in [lifting equipment defect log].

Where required, report the defect to the relevant enforcing authority. For most non-industrial workplaces this is the local authority; for industrial workplaces the relevant authority is HSE.

Record the defect, the equipment identity, the people notified, the date of each notification and any relevant enforcing-authority notification in [lifting equipment defect log].

7. Related guidance

The HSE guide “Lifting equipment at work” is intended for employers, dutyholders and anyone responsible for controlling lifting equipment. It may also be used by people involved in planning lifting operations or using lifting equipment in the workplace.