Posted By Robert K Lewis Strictly the answer is yes. There are issues with the placement of such equipment, ground conditions, control and other matters that make plans necessary. Pumping to a height is still a lifting operation in the letter of the law. Even without this I would still appeal to PUWER and MHSWR to require such planning. Bob

Posted By Ascot252 Happy to be corrected on this one - but pumping (through a pipe) from one level to another is a lifting operation under LOLER? I would be the first to admit I don't know much about concrete pumps but what is the difference between pumping concrete and pumping any other liquid/slurry from one level to another along an enclosed pipe. Best tell the oil refineries etc that pumping oil/gasoline to different levels comes under LOLER.

Posted By Richard Altoft In my opinion LOLER does not apply. The material being raised is fluid and hence is not attached and there is no load as such being lifted and Regulation 8 and others then become nonsensical if pumping and lifting are held to be the same thing. They are clearly not. However PUWER and MHSW and HASWA etc all still apply. As might Pressure Regs. R

Posted By Raymond Rapp Thanks guys for your responses. I suspected that this one would throw up some different opinions - I was right. As someone has pointed out, LOLER is rather vague as per below: 8. — (1) Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is— (a)properly planned by a competent person; (b)appropriately supervised; and (c)carried out in a safe manner. (2) In this regulation “lifting operation" means an operation concerned with the lifting or lowering of a load. The term 'load' does not infer whether it is solid or liquid and therefore presumably not relevant. The Appointed Person on the project has argued a lift plan should be used because it identifies the necessary controls eg ground conditions, overhead lines, railway track etc. Company procedures for lifting do not include a concrete pump and a senior advisor has stipulated that a lift plan is not needed. Obviously with or without a lift plan a SSoW is still needed. Ray

Posted By Robert K Lewis I am still firm on my view as has been carefully expanded by Raymond R. But even without LOLER the requirements of PUWER give the same result. Bob

Posted By Martyn Hendrie I am interested in colleagues justification that a concrete pump is not "lifting equipment" as defined in LOLER. The definition of lifting equipment is given as "..work equipment used for lifting or lowering a load...." A concrete pump is used to lift a load (concrete) from one level to another, therefore is lifting equipment. The guidance does say that LOLER will not apply where the principal function of the equipment is not lifting but this is not the case with a concrete pump. I agree with the general sentiment that even if it does not technically fall within LOLER then PUWER would require identical steps to be taken to ensure safety.

Posted By Lee Mac Raymond Good question. Varied opinions on this one. However, I would say yes- It is machinery used to lift at work- simple as that. Dumpers are subject to thorough inspections so I would like to find out why the same would not apply to the equipment you refer to. Lee

Posted By Robert K Lewis Looking more closely at some of the documents I can see that there is sometimes clear distinction, referring to the boom and the pump as apparently separate items. Just to muddy the water :-) Pump - PUWER Boom - LOLER Such is life:-) Bob