Course Title

Day 1 — Legislation, Roles, and Lifting Equipment Fundamentals

1. Introduction and Legislative Framework

1.1 The Appointed Person Role and Legal Duties

• Definition and legal status of the Appointed Person under LOLER 1998 Regulation 8 and BS 7121 including (the AP as the singular accountability point for all lifting operations)

• Duties of the AP including (lift planning, equipment selection, risk assessment, team briefing, execution oversight, and stop-work authority)

• Distinction between the AP and other lifting team roles including (Crane Supervisor, Lifting Operations Supervisor, Rigger/Slinger, Signaller/Banksman, and Crane Operator — and what the AP can delegate and what remains their non-delegable responsibility)

• Personal liability of the AP including (criminal and civil liability under HSWA 1974, LOLER, and PUWER — and the consequences of planning failures)

1.2 Applicable Legislation and Standards

• Overview of LOLER 1998 (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) including (Regulations 4 through 9 — strength and stability, safety, positioning and installation, marking, organization, and thorough examination)

• Overview of PUWER 1998 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) applicable to lifting equipment and accessories

• Key provisions of BS 7121-1: Code of Practice for Safe Use of Cranes — General and BS 7121-3: Code of Practice for Mobile Cranes

• ANSI/ASME B30 series standards and their relationship to BS 7121 including (B30.5 for mobile cranes, B30.9 for slings, and B30.26 for rigging hardware)

• Regional frameworks including (UAE OSHAD-SF lifting requirements and ADNOC LIMS — and their additional obligations in Middle East operational contexts)

• LEEA COPSULE application to lifting equipment inspection, maintenance, and safe use

2. Crane and Lifting Equipment Familiarization

2.1 Crane Types and Operational Characteristics

• Mobile crane types and their selection criteria including (all-terrain cranes, rough terrain cranes, crawler cranes, and truck-mounted cranes — capacity ranges, mobility, and site access requirements)

• Tower crane types including (self-erecting, top-slewing, and luffing jib configurations — and their application in congested urban and construction environments)

• Specialist lifting equipment including (gantry cranes, chain hoists, lever hoists, and vacuum lifting devices — and AP selection responsibilities for each)

• Offshore and marine crane considerations in accordance with BS 7121-11 and ISO 19901-6 including (dynamic load factors and marine environmental derating)

2.2 Lifting Accessories and Rigging Hardware

• Lifting accessory types and their working load limits including (wire rope slings, chain slings, synthetic fibre slings, shackles, hooks, eyebolts, and spreader beams)

• Sling angle effects on working load limit including (de-rating at 60°, 45°, and 30° sling angles — and the AP's responsibility for confirming rigging arrangement compliance)

• Rigging hardware inspection and rejection criteria in accordance with ASME B30.26 and LEEA COPSULE including (wear, deformation, corrosion, and missing identification markings)

• Colour coding and safe working load marking requirements for lifting accessories in accordance with LOLER 1998

Day 2 — Site Assessment, Hazard Management, and Load Analysis

3. Site Assessment and Hazard Identification

3.1 Ground Conditions and Structural Assessment

• Ground bearing pressure calculation for mobile crane outrigger and crawler track loads including (load distribution, crane mat sizing, and ground improvement specification)

• Site surface assessment including (identifying soft ground, voids, buried services, drainage features, and proximity to excavations — and the AP's obligation to obtain geotechnical confirmation where required)

• Structural support assessment for indoor and elevated platform crane operations including (floor loading capacity, beam and slab assessment, and structural engineer sign-off requirements)

• Temporary roadway and haul road assessment for crane travel including (gradient limits, surface load capacity, and turning radius clearances)

3.2 Environmental and Proximity Hazards

• Overhead hazard identification and safe clearance requirements including (overhead power line safe approach distances per BS 7121 — using the formula D + d > 2H — telecommunications lines, and structural obstructions within the slew arc)

• Underground service identification and protection including (utility survey requirements before crane setup, service marking, and protection measures during crane travel and outrigger deployment)

• Environmental conditions affecting lifting operations including (wind speed limits per crane manufacturer and BS 7121, visibility restrictions, extreme heat effects on wire rope and hydraulic performance, and sand and dust ingress management in Middle East environments)

• Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) management including (exclusion zone conflicts with adjacent work activities, permit-to-work interface, and suspension of lifting operations during incompatible concurrent activities)

4. Load Analysis and Centre of Gravity Determination

• Load weight verification methods including (using certified weight documents, weighing with calibrated load cells, calculation from material density and volume, and the AP's obligation not to proceed without verified load weight)

• Centre of gravity (CoG) determination for regular and irregular load shapes including (calculation methods, CoG marking on loads, and the effect of CoG offset on rigging arrangement and crane capacity)

• Dynamic load factors and their application including (factors for crane travel with load, load pick-up acceleration, and offshore dynamic amplification)

• Lift radius and boom configuration effects on crane capacity including (working radius calculation, capacity reduction at extended radius, and the AP's responsibility for configuration verification before lift)

• Lift categorization under BS 7121 and LOLER 1998 including (routine lifts — within the Schedule of Common Lifts, complex lifts — requiring a specific lift plan, and critical lifts — engineered lifts requiring independent structural engineer review)

Day 3 — Lift Planning, RAMS, and Documentation

5. Lift Plan Development

5.1 Crane Selection and Configuration

• Crane selection matrix development including (capacity at required radius and height, site access constraints, ground bearing capacity, and mobilization considerations)

• Reading and interpreting crane load charts for selected configuration including (confirming capacity at working radius with the planned counterweight and boom configuration)

• Outrigger and stabilizer positioning including (required ground bearing area, outrigger mat specification, level tolerance, and confirmation of full outrigger extension for rated capacity)

• Tandem and multi-crane lift planning including (load sharing calculation, synchronization requirements, communication protocol between crane operators, and AP coordination responsibilities)

5.2 Lift Plan Content and Documentation

• Mandatory lift plan content in accordance with BS 7121 and LOLER 1998 including (lift sketch with dimensions, crane position and radius, load path, exclusion zone, rigging arrangement, and emergency procedures)

• Lift plan sketch production including (plan view and elevation view requirements, scale, dimensioning, and annotation standards for AP-produced lift plan drawings)

• Exclusion zone design including (minimum exclusion zone radius, dropped object zone below load path, swing radius zone, and personnel exclusion enforcement)

• Lift plan approval and authorization workflow including (AP sign-off, client or principal contractor review, independent engineer review for critical lifts, and permit-to-work integration)

• Lift plan amendment control including (managing changes to load weight, crane configuration, or site conditions after plan approval — and the AP's authority to suspend the operation pending replan)

6. Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) Writing

6.1 Risk Assessment for Lifting Operations

• Risk assessment methodology for lifting operations using Lift Planning and Risk Assessment (LPRA) including (hazard identification, likelihood and consequence rating, risk scoring, and control hierarchy determination)

• Lifting-specific hazard categories including (load instability, rigging failure, crane structural failure, ground collapse, overhead contact, and personnel exposure within the exclusion zone)

• Residual risk evaluation and acceptability determination including (AP's responsibility to confirm that all risks have been reduced to ALARP — As Low As Reasonably Practicable — before authorizing the lift)

6.2 Method Statement Development

• Method statement structure for lifting operations including (scope and purpose, personnel roles and competency requirements, equipment list, step-by-step lift sequence, contingency procedures, and communication protocol)

• Writing clear, unambiguous step-by-step lift sequences including (using active voice, specifying hold points, defining verification checks between steps, and including stop-work trigger criteria)

• Integrating the method statement with the lift plan sketch including (cross-referencing plan annotations with method statement steps and ensuring consistency between documents)

• RAMS review and acceptance including (AP final review checklist, client and regulatory authority submission format, and record retention requirements under LOLER 1998)

Day 4 — Lift Execution, Team Leadership, and Inspection

7. Lifting Equipment Inspection and Thorough Examination

7.1 LOLER Thorough Examination Requirements

• Thorough examination requirements under LOLER 1998 including (examination frequency — every 6 months for accessories and every 12 months for lifting equipment — and the competent person requirement for thorough examination)

• AP's responsibility for verifying thorough examination records before authorizing equipment for use including (checking examination reports, expiry dates, and defect status)

• In-service inspection versus thorough examination including (daily pre-use checks by the operator versus formal thorough examination by a LEEA-qualified competent person)

• Defective equipment management including (removal from service, tagging, repair authorization, and re-examination before return to service)

7.2 Lifting Accessory Inspection

• Pre-use inspection of lifting accessories by the AP or designated rigger including (visual inspection criteria for wire rope slings, chain slings, synthetic slings, and rigging hardware)

• Lifting accessory rejection criteria in accordance with LEEA COPSULE including (percentage wear limits, deformation thresholds, and damage types requiring immediate withdrawal)

• Lifting accessory register management including (maintaining records of all accessories on site, inspection status, SWL markings, and periodic examination scheduling)

8. Lift Execution, Team Briefing, and Operational Control

8.1 Pre-Lift Briefing and Toolbox Talk

• Conducting the pre-lift meeting including (presenting the lift plan, confirming team roles, reviewing the method statement step by step, and confirming each team member's understanding)

• Pre-lift toolbox talk content including (site-specific hazards, exclusion zone boundaries, communication signals, emergency procedures, and stop-work authority — emphasizing that every team member has the right and obligation to stop an unsafe lift)

• Confirming personnel competency before the lift including (checking operator authorization, rigger qualifications, and signaller competency — and the AP's duty not to permit unqualified personnel to participate)

8.2 Operational Control and Stop-Work Authority

• AP's responsibilities during active lift execution including (monitoring against the method statement, verifying each hold point, confirming exclusion zone integrity throughout the lift, and maintaining communication with the Lift Supervisor)

• Managing deviations from the lift plan during execution including (criteria for pausing the lift, assessing the impact of the deviation, reauthorizing or replanning before continuing)

• Exercising stop-work authority including (immediate stop triggers — weather change, equipment alarm, personnel encroachment into exclusion zone — and the AP's non-negotiable authority to halt the operation)

• Managing changes to conditions during a lift including (wind speed increase, ground movement, equipment alert, or load behaviour change — and the decision framework for suspension versus abandonment)

Day 5 — HSE, Incident Investigation, Case Studies, and Assessments

9. HSE Integration and Quality Management

9.1 HSE Management in Lifting Operations

• Integration of lifting operations within the site Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management system including (lifting operations procedures, permit-to-work systems, and regulatory authority inspection readiness)

• AP's environmental responsibilities during lifting including (dropped object prevention, dust and noise management during crane operation, spill prevention from crane hydraulic systems, and regulatory notification for environmental incidents)

• Fatigue management for the AP and lift team including (shift length limitations, rest period requirements, and the cognitive impact of fatigue on lift planning and execution judgment)

9.2 Quality Assurance in Lifting Operations

• Lifting operations quality management including (lift plan version control, RAMS document management, thorough examination record filing, and operator authorization register maintenance)

• Key performance indicators for lifting operations safety including (lift plan completion rate, near-miss reporting frequency, thorough examination compliance, and corrective action closure rates)

• Continuous improvement in lifting operations including (Plan-Do-Check-Act — PDCA applied to lifting operations procedures, lessons learned integration from incidents, and periodic review of lift plan quality against incident data)

10. Lifting Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis

• Lifting incident investigation principles and legal requirements including (scene preservation, evidence documentation, witness interviews, and LOLER 1998 regulatory notification obligations)

• Application of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to lifting incidents including (fault tree analysis, fishbone — Ishikawa — diagrams, and the 5-Why technique for common lifting failure modes)

• Identifying direct, contributing, and systemic root causes including (rigging selection errors, load weight discrepancies, lift plan authorization failures, and AP competency gaps)

• Developing corrective action plans including (action prioritization, responsible party assignment, implementation timelines, and effectiveness verification)

• Investigation report writing and regulatory submission including (technical findings, executive summary, and RIDDOR or equivalent regional authority reporting format)

11. Engineered and Complex Lift Planning Workshop

• Engineered lift planning requirements including (independent structural engineer review, tandem lift load sharing calculation, and non-routine load geometry assessment)

• Complex lift plan workshop including (participants develop a full lift plan — including load chart reading, radius calculation, rigging design, RAMS, and lift sketch — for a presented complex lift scenario)

• Tandem lift coordination planning including (load sharing between two cranes, synchronization protocol, communication management, and AP coordination responsibilities during execution)

• Peer review of lift plans including (structured review against BS 7121 and LOLER 1998 compliance checklists, identification of planning gaps, and corrective revision)

• Live lift scenario assessment under supervision including (participants plan, brief, and oversee a controlled lift scenario — assessed for lift plan quality, team briefing effectiveness, and operational control during execution)

12. Case Studies and Group Discussions

• In-depth analysis of major lifting incidents in Middle East industrial, construction, and offshore environments including (crane collapses from ground failure on soft ground, tandem lift failures from inadequate load sharing calculation, rigging failures from uninspected accessories, and exclusion zone breaches resulting in fatalities) and the importance of proper APLO training in ensuring the Appointed Person fulfills their legal duty and protects both personnel and assets

• Group discussion on AP-specific challenges in regional operational environments including (managing client or management pressure to proceed with inadequately planned lifts, maintaining stop-work authority in high-power-distance organizational cultures, and ensuring ADNOC LIMS and OSHAD-SF compliance alongside international BS 7121 and LOLER standards)

• Lessons learned review from regional lifting incident investigations including (systemic root causes identified in AP planning failures, corrective actions implemented, and improvements to lifting management systems arising from post-incident review)