CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Lifting Operations and Equipment Safety Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England, including staff and contractors who provide, control, hire, plan, supervise, operate, examine, install or maintain lifting equipment or lifting accessories.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assessment of lifting equipment and lifting-operation risks, including equipment identification, strength and stability, positioning, installation, safe-working-load markings, competent planning, supervision, operator arrangements, examination status, hired-equipment evidence, and controls for significant changes or abnormal events. Sections apply conditionally to lifting equipment that lifts loads, people or accessories and to equipment that is assembled, installed, relocated or hired.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Lifting equipment may be unsuitable, unsafe, inadequately designed, manufactured, tested, maintained or selected for the intended lifting activity.
- Existing controls
- Record the equipment, intended use, ownership or control arrangements, relevant manufacturer information, maintenance arrangements and any controls currently in place. Do not assume that controls exist unless verified.
- Proposed controls
- Where the school provides or controls lifting equipment, establish and document a process to identify equipment and accessories, confirm suitability for the intended use, check relevant manufacturer information, and arrange appropriate maintenance. Remove from use or otherwise control equipment where its safety cannot be established.
Local assessment and additional controls
A lifting operation may be inadequately planned, supervised or carried out, particularly where the operation differs significantly from standard practice.
- Existing controls
- Record the current planning, supervision and operating arrangements, including who has authority to plan and control the lift and whether arrangements vary for non-routine work.
- Proposed controls
- Ensure every lifting operation is properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. Use a formal written plan where the operation, location, equipment, load, personnel or circumstances require additional planning, including where there is a significant change from standard practice.
Local assessment and additional controls
A load may exceed equipment limits, be unsuitable for the equipment or be inadequately attached or secured, leading to loss of control or equipment failure.
- Existing controls
- Record how loads are identified, assessed and secured, how equipment limits are checked, and what arrangements currently govern the selection and use of lifting accessories.
- Proposed controls
- Select equipment and accessories within their safe limits. Confirm the load characteristics, weight and centre of gravity where relevant; attach and secure loads correctly; use suitable accessories; and prevent use where the load or attachment arrangements cannot be safely established.
Local assessment and additional controls
Lifting equipment or accessories may deteriorate or be damaged by wet, abrasive, corrosive or otherwise unsuitable environments.
- Existing controls
- Record environmental conditions, inspection arrangements, storage arrangements and any current controls for preventing or identifying deterioration and damage.
- Proposed controls
- Assess foreseeable environmental conditions before use. Protect, store, inspect and maintain equipment and accessories to prevent or identify damage and deterioration. Take defective or deteriorated equipment out of service until its safe status has been established.
Local assessment and additional controls
The safe working load or safe working criteria may be absent, unclear, illegible or unsuitable for the equipment configuration.
- Existing controls
- Record the markings or information available for each item of lifting equipment and accessory, including whether the safe working load varies by configuration.
- Proposed controls
- Ensure machinery and accessories used for lifting loads are clearly marked or provided with information indicating their safe working load. Where the safe working load varies, provide the rating for each relevant configuration and keep the information with the machinery. Ensure markings are legible, durable and suitable for the item; do not rely on colour coding alone.
Local assessment and additional controls
People may be struck by moving lifting equipment, moving parts or falling loads during a lifting operation.
- Existing controls
- Record current exclusion, segregation, access-control, communication and supervision arrangements, including how people who are not involved in the lift are kept clear.
- Proposed controls
- Plan the lifting area and route to prevent people being struck by moving equipment or falling loads. Establish suitable exclusion or segregation arrangements, control access, communicate the lift, keep people clear of suspended or moving loads, and provide appropriate supervision.
Local assessment and additional controls
A thorough examination may be undertaken by a person without suitable competence, independence or impartiality, or may be confused with routine servicing or maintenance.
- Existing controls
- Record the person or organisation undertaking examinations, their relevant competence and independence, examination arrangements, reports and any recommendations or restrictions.
- Proposed controls
- Arrange thorough examinations through a competent person with suitable practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the equipment. Ensure the examiner is sufficiently independent and impartial to make objective decisions and does not normally undertake the routine servicing or maintenance being assessed. Retain examination reports and address recommendations before continued use where required.
Local assessment and additional controls
Lifting equipment may be used before a required examination following first use, assembly, installation or relocation, or before its safe installation has been confirmed.
- Existing controls
- Record whether examination-before-use requirements apply, the equipment locations, assembly or installation conditions, relevant reports and any restrictions on use.
- Proposed controls
- Where the stated conditions apply, arrange examination by a competent person before first use. For equipment that is assembled or installed before use, arrange examination after assembly and before use at each location where assembly or installation is required for safe operation, including after relocation where applicable. Do not use the equipment until the required examination and safe-installation confirmation have been obtained.
Local assessment and additional controls
Hired lifting equipment may be used without evidence of a current thorough-examination report.
- Existing controls
- Where equipment is hired, record the hire arrangements, supplier or hire firm, equipment identity, examination report provided, report date, restrictions and arrangements for checking evidence before use.
- Proposed controls
- At the outset of each hire, satisfy the school that a current thorough-examination report is available. Check that the report relates to the equipment being hired and is suitable for the intended use and period. Do not rely solely on the hire firm's usual arrangements without obtaining or verifying the required evidence.
Local assessment and additional controls
Lifting operations may be planned or performed by people without adequate knowledge, training, practical experience, authority or supervision.
- Existing controls
- Record operator arrangements, competence criteria, training or instruction, authorisation, supervision and arrangements for contractors or other persons who may plan or perform lifting operations.
- Proposed controls
- Define the competence required for planning, supervising and operating each relevant lifting activity. Use people with adequate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience for their assigned roles, provide appropriate information, instruction and training, and ensure supervision is proportionate to the operation and the person's competence.
Local assessment and additional controls
A significant change, abnormal event or non-routine lifting operation may be undertaken without reassessment or additional planning.
- Existing controls
- Record arrangements currently used to identify changes and abnormal events, stop or suspend operations, review the plan and authorise a return to use.
- Proposed controls
- Require additional planning when there is a significant change from standard practice or an abnormal event, such as a change in equipment, load, location, installation condition, weather or personnel. Stop or suspend the operation where safe conditions cannot be confirmed, reassess the arrangements and authorise resumption only when the competent person considers it safe.
Local assessment and additional controls
Responsibilities may be unclear where equipment is owned, provided, hired, operated or maintained by different parties, resulting in gaps in safety arrangements.
- Existing controls
- Record the parties involved, contractual or operational responsibilities, equipment control arrangements, examination responsibilities, maintenance arrangements and communication routes.
- Proposed controls
- Identify who provides or controls each item of equipment and each lifting operation. Allocate responsibilities for selection, safe use, planning, supervision, examination, maintenance, defects, hire evidence and records. Communicate these arrangements to relevant staff and contractors before work begins.
Local assessment and additional controls