What is Lifting Equipment?

Your Guide To Types Of Lifting Equipment and related Products

When it comes to lifting equipment, not everyone has the same views on what is the right definition of which products are actually classed as being items of lifting equipment.

Ask any construction worker, site manager, steel erector, mechanical fitter, or company that undertakes engineering projects such as machinery moving, and the chances are that they will all respond with a slightly different answer.

In a lot of tradespeoples eyes they automatically think of huge cranes, telehandler machines, versa-lifts, and also we shouldn’t forget the humble but versatile fork lift truck!

Contractors that work in the building maintenance and repair industries may straight away refer to items of powered access equipment, such as boom lifts, powered platforms, and scissor lift machines.

However, the definition of “lifting equipment” also includes non-powered items of equipment and in particular any products that are used for the lifting of loads. This means that even small lifting products as well as any accessories should also be included within the definition.

To sum this up, so what is lifting equipment? It is any item or product that helps you lift!

Examples:

Products including chain blocks, web slings, all types of cranes (including overhead cranes), genie material lifts, air, electric, and hydraulic hoists, chains, chain clings, ropes, slings, hooks, shackles, d-shackles, eyebolts, rope and pulley systems, block and tackle sets, engine cranes, all types of lifting jacks, a scissor lift, a vehicle tail lift, the front-end loader assembly on a tractor, telehandlers, car and truck vehicle lifts, and of course fork lift trucks are all examples of lifting equipment whether they have been designed to lift goods, machinery, or people.

In addition the definition of lifting equipment also extends to any supporting items e.g. bolts or fixings that are used to wall mount a lifting arm or beam, the runway of an overhead crane or it’s eyebolts, whether used to lift or to permanently support the item of lifting equipment.

Requirements for the safe use of lifting equipment

Lifting equipment and their operation in the UK is subject to strict requirements and standards that anyone who manages lifting equipment or undertakes lifting operations in the UK needs to be familiar with.

These standards are set out in the HSE Approved code of Practice (L113 Safe use of lifting equipment), Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). There are a number of practical requirements for the safe use of lifting equipment / products which need to be carried out before using any type of lifting equipment.

Definition: What is Lifting Equipment?

Genie Lifts - Genie Superlifts

Used for the safe lifting of rsj steel beams, machinery assemblies, construction materials, and concrete / wooden lintels.

Chain Blocks - Pull Lever Hoists

Used for the safe lifting of a wide range of products and items. Used in agriculture, automotive, building and construction, engineering, and all types of industrial maintenance and repair industries in the UK