Rank: Super forum user 
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Lifting equipment requires thorough examination and testing by a competent person. This person should be independent and not be the person who who performs the routine maintenance. Apart from via the insurer, how would an employer identify a competent person to carry out the examination?
Thank you.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Decimomal
If you read the associated guidance on loler the "independence" of the competent person is an arguable term. The person can be employed by the same company operating the equipment but must be shown to have the genuine authority and independence to ensure that examinations are carried out properly. Not easy to achieve I agree. Another alternative is to use a company that provides a service or maintenance function. Again you have to ensure no conflict of interest but many companies do it.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Quotation from indg339: Thorough examination and testing of lifts: Simple guidance for lift owners:
Accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to the relevant standard (BS EN 45004) is an indication of the competence of an inspection body.
However, the quoted standard is now obsolete but UKAS is still operational and publishes lists of Inspection Bodies: http://www.ukas.com/Abou...ction-body-schedules.asp
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Rank: Super forum user
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"""How would an employer identify a competent person to carry out the examination?"""
The employer needs to establish that the person has the relevant training, experience, know how, personal trait's, independence rank etc. in the particular area that is being evaluated. Which means, in most cases, that the guy on the shop floor whilst OK in many areas may not be competent to undertale the activity properly so the employer may have to go to the specialists e.g the insurer noting that competence can be gained but it usually takes time
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Rank: Forum user
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LOLER-98 ACOP Paragraph 249 Competent person –
“You should ensure that the person carrying out a thorough examination has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment”.
So if your guy (I’m assuming you mean a qualified Technician or Engineer) on the Shop Floor is such and is familiar with the equipment to be examined i.e. from a mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic etc point of view then your guy could carry out the Thorough Examination.
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Rank: Forum user
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We use an external company for inspecting our fork lifts, tail lifts, pallet trucks, passenger lift and genies, this is done via our insurance company. But we use internal engineers for inspecting hoists, chain hoists and lifting kit (rope and tackle) used on site. I agree with the previous posts in relation to competence. If you have someone within the organisation with qualifications, knowledge of the kit and practical experience then they can inspect equipment and accessories.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thank you all for the responses.
Bon Weekend.
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Rank: Forum user
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Reed21854 wrote:We use an external company for inspecting our fork lifts, tail lifts, pallet trucks, passenger lift and genies, this is done via our insurance company. But we use internal engineers for inspecting hoists, chain hoists and lifting kit (rope and tackle) used on site. I agree with the previous posts in relation to competence. If you have someone within the organisation with qualifications, knowledge of the kit and practical experience then they can inspect equipment and accessories.
This is correct however two other issues need to be satisfied to comply with LOLER;
- Firstly to make a Report of Thorough Examination in accordance with schedule 1 of LOLER and
- Secondly that they have the authority and independence to send a copy of that report to the enforcing authority if it presents an imminent danger of causing serious injury to persons.
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Rank: Forum user
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Decimomal wrote:Lifting equipment requires thorough examination and testing by a competent person. This person should be independent and not be the person who who performs the routine maintenance. Apart from via the insurer, how would an employer identify a competent person to carry out the examination?
The safety assessment federation (Safed) represents the UK independent engineering inspection and certification industry full details of there members are available at http://safed.co.uk/home/
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