Lifting operations on construction sites and in industrial settings must be planned, supervised and carried out by people who can demonstrate they are competent to do the job. This is not a matter of best practice alone. It is a legal duty, and the regulations are specific about who can plan a lift, who can supervise it and how equipment must be maintained. This guide covers what UK law requires, how competence is evidenced in practice, and what a compliant lift plan looks like.
Who Counts as a Competent Person in Lifting Operations?
LOLER 1998 repeatedly refers to a competent person but does not define a single qualification. In practice, competence means the right combination of training, knowledge and practical experience for the specific task, and the employer must be able to evidence it if asked. For lifting operations this breaks down into distinct roles, each with its own responsibilities:
Appointed Person
Plans the lift, selects the equipment and produces the lift plan. Normally holds a Level 5 NVQ in Controlling Lifting Operations, Planning Lifts.
Lift Supervisor
Supervises the lift on site, ensures the plan is followed and stops the operation if conditions change.
Crane Operator
Operates the lifting equipment, holding a recognised plant card for that specific category of machine.
Slinger Signaller
Attaches and detaches the load, selects the correct accessories and directs the operator using agreed signals.
Plant Operator
Operates lifting equipment other than cranes, including telehandlers and excavators used for lifting duties.
Competent Examiner
Carries out thorough examinations, and must be sufficiently independent of the operating team to give an objective assessment.
How competence is evidenced
Competence is normally demonstrated through a combination of a formal qualification, recorded practical experience and a recognised competence card such as CPCS, NPORS or CSCS. The card alone is not proof of competence, it is evidence that an assessment has taken place, and employers are expected to satisfy themselves that the individual is suitable for the particular lift.
Our lifting operations NVQs cover slinger signaller, lift supervisor and appointed person roles, and are assessed in the workplace using real work activities rather than exams. Operators also need a recognised plant card, which we deliver through NPORS assessments.
Legal Framework and Standards
LOLER 98
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998LOLER 98 mandates that all lifting operations involving lifting equipment are properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out safely. Regulation 8 specifically requires that lifting operations are organised to prevent injury, taking into account the nature of the load, the environment, and the equipment used.
Full guidance is published by the Health and Safety Executive.
BS7121
Code of Practice for Safe Use of CranesThe BS7121 series provides guidance on the safe use of cranes, including selection, maintenance, inspection, and operation. By adhering to BS7121, companies ensure that lifting operations meet industry best practices and reduce the risk of accidents.
BS7121 is not law in itself, but courts and the HSE treat it as the benchmark for what reasonable practice looks like.
MHSWR 1999
Management of Health and Safety at Work RegulationsUnder MHSWR, employers must assess all significant risks to health and safety, including those associated with lifting operations. Effective risk assessments identify potential hazards, evaluate the likelihood of accidents, and determine the necessary control measures.
In practice this means a documented risk assessment and method statement for every non-routine lift.
HASAWA 1974
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974The HASAWA sets the foundation for all health and safety regulations in the UK. It requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others affected by their operations. For lifting tasks, this includes using well-maintained equipment, providing proper training, and following established safety procedures.
Failing to meet these duties can lead to enforcement action from the HSE, including improvement and prohibition notices, alongside project delays, invalidated insurance and a materially higher risk of serious injury on site. Where a lift goes wrong and competence cannot be evidenced, the employer is usually the party held responsible.
How LOLER differs from PUWER
The two regulations are often confused. PUWER 1998 covers all work equipment and requires it to be suitable, maintained and used by trained people. LOLER sits on top of that and adds specific duties wherever equipment is used for lifting: the equipment must be strong and stable enough for the load, positioned to minimise risk, and subject to thorough examination at set intervals. If you lift with it, both apply.
Thorough Examination: How Often Is It Required?
One of the most common compliance failures is missing a thorough examination. LOLER sets minimum intervals, and these apply regardless of how new or lightly used the equipment is.
Equipment must also be thoroughly examined after installation, after assembly at a new site, and following any event likely to have affected its integrity. Where a written examination scheme drawn up by a competent person specifies different intervals, that scheme takes precedence.
What a Lift Plan Should Contain
Regulation 8 requires lifting operations to be properly planned, but the detail sits in BS7121. A workable lift plan should cover:
- The weight, dimensions and centre of gravity of the load
- The lifting equipment and accessories selected, with their safe working loads
- Ground conditions, outrigger positions and crane configuration
- The exclusion zone and how the public and other trades are protected
- Weather limits, particularly wind speed thresholds
- Named personnel for each role and evidence of their competence
- The sequence of operations and communication method
- Emergency arrangements if the lift cannot be completed
Routine, repetitive lifts can be covered by a generic plan. Anything complex, tandem lifts, lifts over occupied areas, or lifts near overhead power lines, needs a specific plan produced by an Appointed Person.
How All Star Safety Can Help
At All Star Safety, we provide expert planning, assessment and advice to ensure that lifting operations are conducted safely and in full compliance with LOLER 98, BS7121, MHSWR and HASAWA. Our services include:
NVQ Assessments for Lifting Roles
We assess candidates towards recognised qualifications including the Level 5 NVQ in Controlling Lifting Operations, Planning Lifts, alongside slinger signaller and lift supervisor routes. See our full range of lifting operations NVQs.
Lift Planning Services
We create detailed lift plans that outline the equipment required, the sequence of operations, and the necessary safety measures.
Lifting Operations Risk Assessments
Documented risk assessments and method statements written to satisfy LOLER 98, BS7121 and MHSWR 1999 requirements.
Competency Verification
We help employers confirm their workforce holds the correct CPCS, NPORS or CSCS cards for the roles they are performing, and identify where qualifications are missing or due to expire.
Site Audits and Compliance Checks
Our team can conduct comprehensive audits of your lifting operations and overall site safety, identifying areas for improvement and providing actionable recommendations. See our full range of health and safety consultancy services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the legal requirements for lifting operations in the UK?
Lifting operations are governed principally by LOLER 1998, which requires every lift to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. PUWER 1998, MHSWR 1999 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 also apply, and BS7121 provides the recognised code of practice for the safe use of cranes.
Who can plan a lifting operation?
Planning must be carried out by a competent person, normally an Appointed Person who holds a relevant qualification such as a Level 5 NVQ in Controlling Lifting Operations. The employer is responsible for satisfying itself that the individual has the necessary training, knowledge and experience for the specific lift.
Does a competence card prove someone is competent?
Not on its own. A CPCS, NPORS or CSCS card is evidence that an assessment has taken place, but competence also depends on relevant practical experience and familiarity with the specific equipment and site conditions. The duty to satisfy itself that a person is competent sits with the employer, not the card scheme.
How often must lifting equipment be thoroughly examined?
Every six months for lifting accessories and for any equipment used to lift people, and every twelve months for other lifting equipment. Examination is also required after installation, after assembly at a new location, and following any event that may have affected the equipment's integrity. A written examination scheme drawn up by a competent person can set different intervals.
Is a lift plan a legal requirement?
LOLER Regulation 8 requires lifting operations to be properly planned, and in practice that means a documented lift plan. Routine and repetitive lifts can be covered by a generic plan, but complex lifts need one prepared specifically for that operation by an Appointed Person.
What qualifications do slinger signallers and lift supervisors need?
Both roles need to demonstrate competence, usually through an NVQ assessed in the workplace alongside a recognised plant or competence card. All Star Safety delivers NVQ assessments for slinger signaller, lift supervisor and appointed person roles across Suffolk, East Anglia and the wider UK.
Get in touch now
If you need professional assistance with lift planning, NVQ assessment, site safety audits, or health and safety guidance, contact All Star Safety today. Let us help you achieve compliance, protect your workforce, and ensure smooth, efficient operations.