Health, Safety and Welfare in Lifting Operations
Health, safety and welfare in lifting covers the hazards around the lift as much as the load itself. Candidates must understand: exclusion zones and controlled access beneath and around loads; the danger of travelling or slewing loads over people; ground conditions and outrigger loading; overhead power lines (including goalposts and safe clearance); weather limits (wind, lightning, visibility); and the hierarchy of control - eliminate, reduce, isolate, control, with PPE as the last resort. Welfare matters too: adequate toilets, washing, drinking water, rest breaks and protection from the elements are legal duties and affect fatigue and error rates.
Manual handling is a frequent topic: slingers often handle heavy slings, shackles and tag lines, so assess the task, use mechanical aids and team lifts. Noise, dust, and hand-arm vibration from tools also apply. Emergency arrangements - first aid, rescue from height, and a plan for a suspended load or trapped person - must be in place before the lift starts.
Traps: assuming PPE prevents all harm; forgetting that a load can swing outside the visible exclusion zone; ignoring ground bearing pressure on soft or sloping ground; and treating welfare as optional. Questions may ask what to do if the wind rises mid-lift - the answer is usually to stop, lower the load safely and reassess, not to hurry the lift.
Worked example: a 2-tonne load on a 4-leg sling with a 45° leg angle. Each leg shares load, but the angle matters - as the angle from vertical increases, leg tension rises. Keep the included angle within the sling's rating and never assume four legs share equally; two legs may take the load.