Page 1720 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Safety, Health, Environmental & Quality Bulletin No 652

27 December 2018

Use of Lifting Chains

An Edinburgh based consortium as recently been fined £10,000 after an employee was seriously injured
as a result of a lift using chains that were too short.

The contractors were the lifting large steel mats but the chains used were not sufficient length to
correctly connect to the mat lifting points. The lift operation had not been planned by an Appointed
Person, was not supervised and the crane operators ticket had expired. The mats had been moved in a
rush as a fuel delivery was scheduled.

The mat fell onto to foot of a 49 year old worker who was assisting with the lift, resulting in him having
five toes amputated.

The contractor was prosecuted under regulation 8 of the
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

This incident shows the need to always plan works in
advance and ensure all lifting operations are checked before
any work is carried out. Don’t be rushed into cutting
corners.

Always make sure the lifting equipment meets the lift plan,
and is suitable for the task, remember single leg chains are
rated for vertical operation and must be significantly de-rated
if used at angles. Never use chains too short or where the
largest angle between chains exceeds 120 degrees.

Check the crane operators cards and the lifting equipment
certificates. Do not proceed if the card or certificate has
expired.

See more details at http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2018/november/company-fined-after-worker-seriously-
injured.htm

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