Monday, May 10, 2010

Safety on Lifting Operations - WSH Bulletin

10 May 2010

Ensuring Safe Lifting Operations

Lifting Operations can be Dangerous
Lifting activities are an essential part of operations at many worksites. However, lifting operations can be potentially dangerous and are considered high-risk activities. The unsafe and improper use of lifting equipment had resulted in fatalities, serious injuries, and dangerous occurrences. Crane-related incidents such as crane collapse can have severe outcomes, including damage to surrounding properties, and serious injuries to workers and the public.
Ensuring Safe Lifting Operations
To ensure safe operations, thorough risk assessment and careful planning are required prior to commencement of work. A proper lifting plan should be developed for all lifting operations, which should include (i) a proper risk assessment process, (ii) a permit-to-work system, (iii) the selection of safe and proper equipment, (iv) an appreciation of the actual ground conditions and (v) the deployment of qualified and competent personnel.
The followings are some of the safety precautions which should be exercised at all times for lifting operations:
  • Site lifting machines such as cranes on firm, stable and level ground (see Figure 1) to ensure stability during lifting operations.
  • Do not overload the lifting appliance, lifting gear and lifting machines
  • Ascertain the weight of the load before lifting
  • Develop specific risk assessment and method statement for tandem lifting operations, slope, or travelling with suspended loads
  • Check that the lifting hook’s safety latch is functioning
  • Inspect all lifting gears such as shackle, sling and hook for defects before use
  • Prominently display all relevant test certificates of the lifting equipment and permit to lift

    Fig1. Photograph courtesy of Gammon Pte. Limited
    Firm and level ground for sitting of crane. The outriggers are fully extended and on proper pads.
Further Information
1. WSH (General Provisions) Regulations 2006, please click here.
2. WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007, please click here.
3. Factories (Operations of Cranes) Regulations, please click here.
4. SS536: 2008 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Mobile Cranes
5. CP 62: 1995 Code of Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes
6. CP 63: 1996 Code of Practice for the Lifting of Persons in Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes
7. Technical Advisory for Safe Operation of Lifting Equipment, please click here.

7 comments:

  1. Dear Thomas,

    To store paint, do we need license from SCDF?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Thomas,

    We observed that you have reproduced many of WSH Bulletins on your blog. This is commendable as we encourage our readers to share the information with others. However, we would appreciate if you could credit the WSH Council and WSH Bulletin as the source of the information, and to provide a link back to the orginal Bulletin on our website for each post. The links can be found in the email Bulletins, or they can be retrieved from our website (www.wshc.sg). As our website has moved to a new domain at www.wshc.sg, you may also wish to update the link in the sidebar of your blog. Thank you.

    Wing Git
    chan_wing_git@wshc.gov.sg

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Anonymous,

    You may need to apply for Petroleum & Flammable Materials Storage Licence if your paint has low flashpoint. Recommended to get the MSDS of the paint & understand the flashpoint before communicating with SCDF.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete