Here is an interesting one for you LOLER lot!! :) Maybe you can help. Imagine a large staircase with a number of landings in a building. I have been approached by my Contracts Manager who needs to lift an item underneath one of the landings weighing circa 250kg. He wants to put lifting slings over one of the landings and hang shackles and pulleys from the lifting slings. He wants to then lift the items into place using the pulleys. I hope I have made that clear. This method just feels all wrong, but I can't think of why aside from the potentially sharp edges of the landing damaging the slings, and the staircase hasn't been tested as a piece of lifting equipment, but I am more then certain is capable of taking a 250kg load. Your help will be very much appreciated. Wayne.

:) It dis feel wrong asking a question like this, I would be interested it what feedback you would give the the CM? Aside from the April 1st comment.

How high is the landing? What is the staircase made from (e.g. steel or concrete)? What will the lifting slings be anchored to (main anchor point)? What would stop the load falling should one or more slings fail? Also, I'm assuming that by 'lift an item underneath one of the landings', you mean lift vertically up a central shaft until the desired landing is reached, then traverse the load sideways? If this is the case: How will you manouevre the load safely sideways? Have you factored in any increased load on the individual slings? Not an exhaustive list, but a few questions I'd be asking for starters. However, before asking those ones, I'd be looking to see if there is a more conventional alternative that is feasible.