Lifting Accessories

The CE Marking Authority delivers innovative and bespoke compliance solutions to meet your business needs. By helping you bring your equipment to the market and ensuring technical and regulatory documentation demonstrates compliance, our network of experts enables you to keep ahead of your competitors.

We offer you flexible solutions for your business needs by supplying you with a test plan which can be conducted by you in-house, saving time and expense. Then we review the data or we can conduct the testing for you. Then finally, we supply you with a complete technical file that demonstrates compliance with the applicable legislation and the appropriate certification.

As part of the Compliance Management System, we monitor all the applicable regulations and standards and inform you when they are updated enabling you to manage your technical file effectively and giving you peace of mind

The range of lifting equipment covered by EU requirements is very wide and the Machinery Directive can apply across all industry sectors; from healthcare to construction, most industries and commercial activity will use some kind of lifting equipment.

Technological progress has meant that innovative, often complex, and powerful lifting equipment is now available for use. Nevertheless, whether it is modern and complex or more traditional lifting equipment, Machinery Directive will apply if it is used for lifting purposes.

Although a lifting accessory is not a machine they fall within the scope of the Machinery Directive Article 1(1) (d)

‘Lifting Accessory’ means a component or equipment not attached to the lifting machinery, allowing the load to be held, which is placed between the machinery and the load or on the load itself, or which is intended to constitute an integral part of the load and which is independently placed on the market; slings and their components are also regarded as lifting accessories;

This meaning has caused many an argument following discussion with the industry the EU has updated the meaning in the blue guide, relating to Lifting Accessories referred to in Article 1 (1) (d) are defined in Article 2 (d). It should be noted that lifting accessories are also designated by the term ‘machinery’ used in the broad sense Lifting machinery usually has a device for holding the load such as, for example, a hook. Such load-holding devices incorporated into lifting machinery are not to be considered lifting accessories.

However given the varied shape, size, and nature of the loads to be lifted, equipment is often placed between the holding device (hook) of the lifting machinery and the load, or on the load itself, in order to hold the load during the lifting operation. Such equipment is referred to as a lifting accessory. Products that are independently placed on the market to be incorporated into loads for this purpose are also considered lifting accessories.
So in simple terms, a lifting accessory is a piece of equipment that is used to attach the load to the lifting equipment

Common examples of lifting accessories include:

• fibre or rope slings
• chains (single or multiple legs)
• lifting fixtures
• eyebolts
• shackles
• spreader beams
• vacuum devices

Note: in all cases, the equipment is detachable, if the equipment is welded or permanently fixed to the load it then becomes part of the load.

Important Note: Any lifting accessories used between lifting equipment and the load may need to be taken into account in determining the overall weight of the load.

Placing on the market and putting into service

Before placing machinery on the market and/or putting it into service, the manufacturer or his authorised representative shall:

(a) ensure that it satisfies the relevant essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex I of the Directive
(b) ensure that the technical file referred to in Annex VII, part A is available;
(c) provide, in particular, the necessary information, such as instructions;
(d) carry out the appropriate procedures for assessing conformity in accordance with Article 12;
(e) draw up the EC declaration of conformity and ensure that it accompanies the lifting accessory;
(f) produce a test certificate or a current record of inspection
(g) affix the CE marking in accordance with Article 16.

Technical Construction File

The technical file provides the relevant technical documentation which enables a manufacturer to explain the measures he has taken to deal with the risks associated with the lifting accessory in order to comply with the applicable essential health and safety requirements.

Therefore, the manufacturer’s technical construction file is both a means to enable the market surveillance authorities to check the conformity of the lifting accessory after it has been placed on the market and a means for the manufacturer to demonstrate the conformity of his product

The technical file shall comprise the following:

(a) a technical construction file including:

• a design risk assessment to ISO 12100:2010 the risk assessment demonstrates the procedure followed, including:
o a list of the essential health and safety requirements that apply to the lifting accessory,
o the description of the protective measures implemented to eliminate identified hazards or to reduce risks and, when appropriate, the indication of the residual risks associated with the lifting accessory,
• a general description of the lifting accessory,
• full detailed drawings, accompanied by any calculation notes, test results, certificates, etc., required to check the conformity of the lifting accessory with the essential health and safety requirements,
• the standards and other technical specifications used, indicating the essential health and safety requirements covered by these standards if not using a 'C' Type standard,
• any technical report giving the results of the tests carried out either by the manufacturer or by a body chosen by the manufacturer or his authorised representative,
• a copy of the instructions for the lifting accessory,
• where appropriate, copies of the EC declaration of conformity of the lifting accessory
• a copy of the EC declaration of conformity;

(b) for series manufacture, the internal measures that will be implemented to ensure that the machinery remains in conformity with the provisions of this Directive.

The manufacturer must carry out necessary research and tests on components, fittings, or the completed lifting accessory to determine whether by its design or construction, it is capable of being assembled and put into service safely. The relevant reports and results shall be included in the technical file.

A technical file is required for each model or type of lifting accessory. The terms 'model' or 'type' designate lifting accessories with a given design, technical characteristics, and application. A type of lifting accessory may be produced in series or as a single unit. One type of lifting accessory may have variants; however, to be considered as belonging to the same type, variants must have the same basic design, present similar hazards, and require similar protective measures. The description of the lifting accessory in the technical file must specify any variants of the model or type concerned.

The EC declaration of conformity must contain the following particulars:

1. business name and full address of the manufacturer and, where appropriate, his authorised representative;
2. name and address of the person authorized to compile the technical file, who must be established in the Community;
3. description and identification of the lifting accessory, including generic denomination, function, model, type, serial number, and commercial name;
4. a sentence expressly declaring that the lifting accessory fulfills all the relevant provisions of this Directive and where appropriate, a similar sentence declaring the conformity with other Directives and/or relevant provisions with which the lifting accessory complies. These references must be those of the texts published in the Official Journal of the European Union;
5. reference to the examination certificate;
6. where appropriate, a reference to the harmonized standards used, as referred to in Article 7(2);
7. where appropriate, the reference to other technical standards and specifications used;
8. the place and date of the declaration;
9. the identity and signature of the person empowered to draw up the declaration on
behalf of the manufacturer or his authorised representative.

User’s Responsibilities

In addition to CE Marking in the UK lifting accessories are covered by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

In practice, LOLER regulations require all lifting operations to be properly planned and supervised by a ‘competent person'. LOLER also requires that all lifting accessories must undergo regular examinations by an independent competent person to ensure that it is fit for purpose — it is the responsibility of the business that own or rent the equipment to make sure these examinations take place. The lifting accessories must then be appropriately marked and records of each examination must be kept, with any defects being reported to the person responsible for the equipment and the relevant enforcing authority

LOLER testing must be performed by what is known officially as a ‘competent person’: someone qualified to perform the thorough examination.

LOLER ACOP defines a competent person as someone who “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”. This person must also be impartial so they can be sufficiently objective in their review of the equipment, so it is recommended you hire an external contractor to perform your LOLER inspections. This will ensure there is no doubting the validity of your LOLER inspections should there be an accident on your site.

LOLER inspection, known officially as a ‘thorough examination’ and inspection are key requirements of the Regulations, to meet these requirements, the duty holder must have lifting accessories thoroughly examined:

• Before using a lifting accessory for the first time – unless the equipment has an EC Declaration of Conformity less than one-year-old
• Regularly in service if the lifting accessory is exposed to conditions causing deterioration that is likely to result in dangerous situations.

Accessories for lifting must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every 6 months or in accordance with an examination scheme.