Church lifting equipment

Lifting equipment includes any powered or non-powered equipment for lifting or lowering loads. It includes any attachments used for anchoring, fixing, or supporting loads (such as chains, eyebolts, etc.).

Some churches do have large, heavy, ornate font covers that are raised and lowered by a system of pulleys with counterweights. Similar mechanisms are also used to raise and lower other fixtures, such as large candelabras.

In larger churches, you may find other lifting equipment, including chair and passenger lifts, hoists, and occasionally other lifting equipment associated with construction work.

As an employer or someone in control of lifting equipment, you will need to make sure that it is:

• Sufficiently strong, stable, and suitable for its intended use
• Positioned or installed to prevent people from being injured – for example, from being struck by a load
• Marked with appropriate safety information – for example, safe working load limits, etc.

For simple lifting equipment, it may be necessary to arrange for periodic checks to be completed on it. This will be for equipment whose main purpose is to lift/lower a load, and the load is lifted free from a supporting structure, and it is provided for work purposes or for people who are at work. Even if this is not the case, you will still have to make sure that any equipment (including lifting equipment) is safe.

As such, this type of equipment needs to be marked with its safe working load, and simple instructions for use provided. It will need to be thoroughly examined by a competent person every 12 months. However, this periodicity can be varied following any advice provided by them. This would need to be confirmed in writing.