APPOINTED PERSONS (LIFTING OPERATIONS)

In lifting operations, an appointed person is the person responsible for the execution and safety of a lifting operation. Although duties may be delegated to others, it is the appointed person who retains the responsibility of the operation.

An appointed person may also be a crane supervisor or crane operator in addition to being an appointed person. The role is a very responsible one as the appointed person must have good working knowledge of lifting operations and safe working.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN APPOINTED PERSON?

BS 7121 recommends that the appointed person in any lifting operation carries out approval of all risk assessments, lift categorisation and method statements. The appointed person will often be the person who selects the correct crane/s and lifting accessories for the job too.

The appointed person will also give instruction to other employees on the operation, supervise work and consult with other responsible bodies to ensure that work is undertaken as safely as possible.

The responsibilities of an appointed person mean that it is advantageous for anyone wanting to do this job has a background in lifting operations. An appointed person must be able to assess site conditions and equipment and make recommendations based on the type of task being carried out. This is all easier to do with a background in lifting.

Despite this, it isn’t necessary for an appointed person to have any formal qualification to carry out their job; legislation places emphasis on competency and it is the employer’s role to ensure that an appointed person is competent.

Competent is often judged by several factors, including experience but it is very likely that a relevant qualification will be asked for.

In the UK, there are several ways a person can demonstrate their competency to be a lifting operations appointed person but one of the most easily recognised, and accepted qualifications is CPCS.

CPCS APPOINTED PERSON TRAINING

In order to show their competency, an appointed person or operator looking to become an appointed person should look to achieve a qualification.

There are two specific appointed person courses in the UK; CPCS or NPORS.

CPCS Appointed Person (A61)

The CPCS appointed person course is aimed at supervisors and managers with responsibility for lifting operations and will give them a good understanding of the appointed persons responsibilities and how to fulfil them.

Upon completing the course and passing the CPCS technical tests, the learner would achieve a red CPCS Trained Operator card.

The Red Trained Operator card will only for 2 years. In this time you are required to undertake the relevant NVQ in order to upgrade your card to the Blue Competent Operator Card. The red card cannot be renewed, the only way to remain in the CPCS scheme is to complete the relevant NVQ.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are competence based and are achieved in the workplace. They demonstrate your ability at work by recognising the skills, knowledge, ability, training and experience required to perform a job safely and in an effective and efficient manner.

To complete the NVQ you will be required to submit work based evidence and also complete an assessment by observation with the assessor.

At Eryri Consulting Limited, our Principal Consultant (Glyn Hughes) has carried out the training and NVQ and holds a CPCS card valid until May 2023.

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