CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Lifting Equipment Applicability and Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- School employers, headteachers, school leaders, premises and estates teams, responsible persons, competent advisers and staff involved in lifting equipment or lifting operations.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Use this register where site evidence confirms that lifting equipment is present or lifting operations are carried out at the school. Identify the equipment and operations, assess the relevant hazards, record verified existing controls separately from proposed controls, and establish suitable examination, inspection, defect-reporting and information-keeping arrangements. Do not assume that equipment or lifting operations exist.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Lifting equipment or lifting operations may not be identified, or their applicability may be assumed without site evidence, resulting in relevant hazards and controls being missed.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific inventory, equipment list, lifting-operation register or evidence of applicability was supplied. Verify whether lifting equipment is used or lifting operations are carried out before relying on this register.
- Proposed controls
- Confirm applicability through a documented site review. Identify each item of lifting equipment and each lifting operation, including equipment location, use, responsible persons, loads and operating context where applicable. Record items confirmed as absent or outside scope, with the evidence and review date. Revisit the assessment when equipment, operations, contractors or arrangements change.
Local assessment and additional controls
Failure of lifting equipment, attachments, supports, loads or associated arrangements because strength or stability is unsuitable for the intended lifting activity.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific evidence was supplied regarding equipment capacity, structural support, load information, stability checks, manufacturer information or competent-person review.
- Proposed controls
- Where equipment or operations are confirmed, verify the strength and stability of the equipment, attachments, supports and relevant loads for the intended use. Obtain and retain available manufacturer or supplier information and supporting technical evidence. Prevent use where capacity, stability or suitability cannot be established, and obtain competent advice where required.
Local assessment and additional controls
Lifting equipment may be positioned or installed so that it is unstable, obstructed, inaccessible for safe use, or exposes people to avoidable risks during lifting.
- Existing controls
- No site observations, installation records, layout information or evidence of safe positioning was supplied.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable, review the position and installation of each item, including supporting surfaces, clearances, access, travel paths, visibility, exclusion zones and interaction with pupils, staff, visitors, vehicles and other activities. Ensure installation and any alteration are carried out and checked by persons with suitable competence. Record the basis for the arrangement and any restrictions on use.
Local assessment and additional controls
Equipment may be used with unclear, missing or unreliable identification, capacity or other relevant marking, increasing the risk of unsuitable loads or incorrect operation.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific evidence was supplied regarding equipment marking, identification, rated capacity, instructions or load information.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable, check that equipment is identifiable and that relevant capacity, configuration, restrictions and operating information are available and legible. Do not permit use when essential information is missing or cannot be verified. Provide clear arrangements for managing accessories, attachments and changes that could affect capacity or safe use.
Local assessment and additional controls
Lifting operations may be poorly planned, supervised or coordinated, exposing people to falling loads, struck-by hazards, trapping, collision or uncontrolled movement.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific lifting plans, operating procedures, supervision arrangements, competence records, communication arrangements or exclusion-zone controls were supplied.
- Proposed controls
- Where lifting operations are confirmed, organise them using arrangements proportionate to the equipment, load, location and people potentially affected. Define roles, competence, communication, supervision, load control, access restrictions and emergency arrangements. Keep people not involved in the operation away from danger areas, including pupils, staff, visitors and contractors. Coordinate activities where more than one employer or work group is involved.
Local assessment and additional controls
Lifting equipment may deteriorate or develop defects without suitable examination and inspection arrangements, allowing unsafe equipment to remain in use.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific examination scheme, inspection arrangements, reports, competent-person details, equipment history or inspection intervals were supplied. The supplied source does not establish an interval for this register.
- Proposed controls
- Where lifting equipment is confirmed, establish arrangements for examination and inspection based on the equipment, use, conditions and competent advice. Identify who will arrange and perform the work, what records will be retained, how findings will be reviewed, and how overdue examinations or inspections will prevent use. Do not invent or rely on an interval without an appropriate basis; document the applicable examination arrangement and its rationale.
Local assessment and additional controls
Defects, damage, deterioration or adverse examination findings may not be recognised, reported, isolated or corrected before further use.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific defect-reporting, quarantine, repair, escalation or return-to-service arrangements were supplied.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable, provide a documented process for identifying and reporting defects, stopping or restricting use, clearly identifying equipment that must not be used, arranging competent assessment and repair, and authorising return to service. Ensure users know how to report concerns and that unresolved defects are communicated to affected staff and contractors.
Local assessment and additional controls
Information about equipment, lifting operations, examinations, inspections, reports, defects and actions may be incomplete or unavailable, preventing informed decisions about safe use.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific records, document-control arrangements, equipment register, examination reports, inspection records or defect logs were supplied.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable, maintain accessible records proportionate to the equipment and operations, including identification, location, relevant instructions, examination and inspection information, reports, defects, corrective actions, restrictions and review dates. Assign responsibility for maintaining the records and make relevant information available to users, managers, contractors and competent persons.
Local assessment and additional controls