Hi all, I'm wondering if you can help me; I work in a factory where loads are stored on various types of carts and trolleys, and we work with particularly heavy products such as glass. I know on any lifting equipment or accessories, they should come with load bearing information such as the SWL, on the rating plate. The trolleys, whilst they don't actually lift or lower (so as far as I'm concerned, aren't covered under LOLER and L113 Safe Use of Lifting Equipment) but they do support a load. My question is, should they have rating plates on? Or is it simply enough to have them tested and evidence of their SWL/WWL? Thanks.   

Originally Posted by: Ian Bell2

Are these trolley locally made or have they been bought as finished items?

I guess you could argue under PUWER that they need adeqaute marking (Reg 23 & 24) markings and warnings.

It would seem reasonable to include an indication of the expected load that the trolleys are capable of carrying.

Thanks for the reply Ian. A mixture I beleive; one specific trolley that I have in mind has been made/designed for a specific purpose and we had a near miss involving it becoming derailed; one of the things I realised was that no one was aware of the specific SWL/WWL for the item in question and my concerns were that because of this, it could have contributed towards the near miss. I've enquired with the manufacturer but so far, no response. I did initially look at Reg 23 under PUWER but because it specifically states that "Equipment used for lifting loads should be marked with the maximum working load limit (WLL) (rated capacity). Specific information relating to the marking of lifting equipment is set out in regulation 7 of LOLER" and only mentions lifting loads, not just bearing them, I wasn't sure it applied?

Isn't this a risk assessment question really? They need a rating if your risk assessment decides they need a rating. As you say, they carry considerable weight. How might someone be harmed?.... by failing under load, what can you do about it?... buy ones suitable and adequate for the job, How do you check? By buying ones that are rated.

If someone is harmed by one failing and you haven't forseen that might happen, knowing how heavy the loads are, then your system has failed.

I'd see two areas to consider - the SWL in terms of the wheels & structuire supporting the load, then the braking system fitted to the carts.  Bearings and wheels can suddenly shatter but often they fail gradually with creaks, groans and grinding noises.  However,  it reads that these are pushed around by staff rather than being powered trolleys.  So if they are pushed by the staff, they are either stopped in the same way or have a braking system fitted.  That's where I would see the weakest link.  The chassis may well be sturdy enough for your load and more but once its moving, the staff may have limited means of stopping it or controling its movements.
Are they expensive? If you can't find the manufacturer's information, could you do some testing and sacrifice a trolley to gain your own data?  

Edited by user 20 March 2019 06:39:00(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified