CP Safe Lifting Operations in the Workplaces

As Singapore enhances the importance of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH), the management of lifting activities has been identified as a high risk operation which requires proper planning and execution. This Code of Practice (CP) has been developed to provide guidance on how to conduct such lifting operations safely. It highlights factors that need to be considered during the planning and execution of the operation, and introduces the Lifting Plan as a systematic approach towards planning a lift. The CP also outlines the roles and responsibilities of those who are involved in a lifting operation.

This CP is aimed at practitioners who are involved in lifting operations, particularly those who plan these operations and the supervisors of the personnel in the lifting team.

This CP was produced after extensive analysis of current practice in Singapore. Assembled by specialists in the field, the CP is intended to provide examples of good practices. It is not meant to be prescriptive or imply that there is only one way of doing the task, nor it is intended to replace or take precedence over recommendations, policies and procedures judged as safe as or safer than those given herein.

Individuals and companies shall use the CP as the preferred standard and that they shall continue to find ways to exceed and improve upon the practices detailed within.

There are many modes and methods of conducting a lifting operation. This CP is not intended to cover in detail, but provide guidance on the minimum expectations required during the planning and implementation of a lifting operation. The same principles can be applied to a large 500 tonne or a smaller lifting device. While this CP recognises that companies have adopted their in-house operational procedures, this CP has been developed to provide guidance in conducting safe lifting operations with a foundation in operational expectations and requirements.

Note 1: This CP replaces the Technical Advisory for Safe Operation of Lifting Equipment published by the WSH Council in May 2009.

Note 2: This revision incorporates amendments to Section 3 by moving some of the contents to Section 7.

This includes information on the ownership, usage, development considerations and factors that affect the Lifting Plan.

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