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Bateson31062  
#1 Posted : 06 November 2012 11:40:25(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Bateson31062

Hi just seeking clarity around servicing & LOLER regarding tracking and mobile hoists used in the care industry. Recently just be informed that the person who services the equipment should not be the one that carrys out the LOLER. Is this a legal requirement or a good standard to be followed?
chas  
#2 Posted : 06 November 2012 11:50:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chas

It is HSE best practice guidance (refer to their LOLER leaflet INDG422 I think).
Bateson31062  
#3 Posted : 06 November 2012 11:52:00(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Bateson31062

Thank you I will follow it up
BuzzLightyear  
#4 Posted : 06 November 2012 12:37:57(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
BuzzLightyear

Bateson31062 wrote:
Hi just seeking clarity around servicing & LOLER regarding tracking and mobile hoists used in the care industry. Recently just be informed that the person who services the equipment should not be the one that carrys out the LOLER. Is this a legal requirement or a good standard to be followed?


I came across this issue a year or so ago. An environmental health officer was initially insisting that we used a different person to do the LOLER examination than the person doing the servicing. He was referring to the HSE leaflet INDG422 which clearly supports this assertion. However, the wording in the leaflet seems to have been taken out of context compared to the guidance in the LOLER Regulation/ACOP/Guidance book L113. The Guidance in L113, para 295 - seemed to be talking about independence for inhouse engineers - independence from the people who use the hoist/the management/staff team. At least that was my interpretation.

I checked this with our national contact at the HSE and he advised me that it was not necessary to ensure that the LOLER examiner was a different person to the servicing engineer. He said the situation is very different for tower cranes which are far more complex and high risk but considered such a recommendation on applying the same rules to people hoists would be OTT.
Bateson31062  
#5 Posted : 06 November 2012 12:51:07(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Bateson31062

Thanks Buzz thats really helpful
ADH  
#6 Posted : 06 November 2012 14:52:08(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ADH

ADH  
#7 Posted : 06 November 2012 14:56:24(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ADH

Sorry, should have added this bit directly from the document:

"An employee nominated to carry out this work should not generally be the same person who performs routine maintenance, as they would be responsible for assessing their own work. Competent persons should be able to act with impartiality and independence. The employer should consider independent verification of any ‘in-house’ competent person’s work"

I think that statement is pretty self exlanatory and demonstrates where the responsibilities for maintenance and inspection lie.
Bateson31062  
#8 Posted : 06 November 2012 14:58:55(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Bateson31062

Thank you very helpful
Ron Hunter  
#9 Posted : 06 November 2012 17:07:29(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

The operative word in the guidance is "should". Not shall, not must, but "should".

This IMHO allows some lee-way for a pragmatic approach in lower-risk situations and instances where a separate 'competent person' would add no more value than the person supervising (even on a sample basis) those undertaking the maintenance/servicing.
Due diligence shouldn't mean breaking the bank.
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