Does anyone know if hand vacuum glass lifting aids should be subject to statutory inspections under LOLER?

We have all our lifting aids inspected by our insureance company twice a year, this includes our vacuum glass lifters.
Derek.

If this is the type hand held vacum grip then, no LOLER does not apply. They should be regularly inspected under PUWER.
Regards Toby

Refer to Local Authority Circular 90/4 on LOLER 1998 :-
http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/90-4.htm#para24

Paras 24 to 29 cover examples of excluded equipment-please note that there is no prescrptive list, but as indiacted in para 24, " LOLER should not be applied to the range of tools and apparatus which perform only a limited lifting function........."

Therefore, just because the "tool" perform a lifing function , it does not necessarily mean that LOLER applies. My view is that it is a "tool", and PUWER will apply.

My question now then is what is the difference in lifting function between a battery operated glass lifter and a lifter where the same gripping force is applied by hand?

Does the glass know which has been applied to it if it decides to break the force suspending it in shear?

then shall we move onto paving slab lifters which use the same physics.

I feel it will remain a tool and become cost effective untill a 300Kg glass window falls on someone ...... only then will the question "you got a cert for that mate?" be asked.

in fact why don't we scrap LOLER all together and take up yogic chanting to will the load into the air...I'm sure it will be cheaper ... and as good a defence in the courts all hail the compensation culture!!!

Gee Whizz don't shoot the messengers db - I agree with your comments and I was sitting on the fence with this!!

You could have 8 guys with vac suckers lifting a 300KG plate which apparently don't come under LOLER or one crane with vacuum frame lifting the same load which does fall under LOLER - how do you differentiate?

The chap from the Insurance Company initially said "LOLER" straight away then changed his mind when I mentioned about hand tools and the circular from the LA when he thought about it.

So are we any closer to a definitive answer LOLER or Not?

I think that unless you specify explicitly the suction pads are hand tools, (which in the vast majority of cases are used to handle smaller/lighter loads of glass) it is possible that it is assumed that they may be lifted by a hoist/crane etc.

To consider the difference , just look at the 2 diiferent scenarios:-

http://www.ggrglass.co.u...duct.php?DepartmentID=16

http://www.anver.com/doc...cups/hand-cups-h1102.pdf