Section 5: Special provisions applicable to work equipment used for lifting loads

Demountable or mobile work equipment used for lifting loads must be used in such a way as to guarantee the stability of the work equipment during use under all foreseeable conditions, taking into account the nature of the supports.

All measures are taken and all instructions are given to ensure that, at no time, the components of work equipment used for lifting loads, whatever they may be, as well as suspended loads, can come into direct contact or cause ignition with the active parts of non-insulated electrical installations, or damage the surrounding electrical installations.

People may only be lifted using work equipment and accessories designed for this purpose.

By way of derogation from article R. 4323-31, work equipment not designed for lifting people may be used: 1° Either to access a workstation or to perform work when the use of equipment specially designed for lifting people is technically impossible or exposes them to a greater risk due to the work environment. A joint order by the ministers for labour and agriculture sets out the specifications for the equipment…

It is forbidden to lift a load greater than that marked on the appliance and, where applicable, on the load plate, except during tests or trials.

Measures are taken to prevent materials, fixtures or any other objects being lifted from falling or catching.

When work equipment used for lifting loads is stationary, no load may be suspended from the hook.

It is forbidden to carry loads above people, unless this is required for the smooth running of the work. In this case, an operating procedure is defined and applied.

When the load of a lifting device crosses a traffic lane, special measures are taken to prevent any danger resulting from the possible fall of the load being transported.

Where two or more pieces of equipment for lifting non-guided loads are installed or mounted in a workplace in such a way that their fields of action overlap, measures are taken to avoid collisions between the loads or with parts of the work equipment itself.