NPORS N401 Appointed Person

By the end of the course, delegates should be able to:

Roles, responsibilities and legislation

• Have a basic understanding of the industry, the dangers of working in the industry and your responsibilities as an Appointed Person.
• Explain the duties and responsibilities of the crane/lift supervisor, crane operator, slinger/signaller, crane erector and maintenance personnel.
• Demonstrate and explain how to interpret and extract information from all relevant documentation, including legislation, regulations and codes of practice relating to lifting operations and duties.
• Explain and identify the different requirements to be followed for the lifting of persons, a basic lift, a standard lift, a complex lift, and the additional requirements for lifting from height.
• Explain the notification process and the reporting requirements for authorities, utility bodies and any other parties affected by the lifting operation.

Cranes, equipment and accessories

• Identify different types of cranes and their capabilities and limitations for lifting.
• Explain the maintenance, inspection, thorough examination and testing requirements for lifting equipment and all accessories.
• Explain the setting up, erection, levelling and dismantling requirements for diverse types of lifting equipment and lifts.
• Explain and demonstrate how to calculate point loadings and outrigger loadings, and spreader mat types and sizes.
• Explain the function and use of the RCI, LMI and anti-collision systems and use the information provided.
• Demonstrate and explain the selection of the correct cranes for specified lifts, including all accessories, ensuring the correct duties charts, range diagrams and specification sheets are used.
• List and explain relevant information on different types of lifting accessories and explain their applications.

Loads, slinging and communication

• Explain and demonstrate different slinging techniques, including calculating sling sizes and angles, balanced and unbalanced loads, centres of gravity and loose loads.
• Identify weights and centres of gravity for various types of load, and specify appropriate lifting accessories for them.
• Demonstrate and illustrate different types of communication methods for lifting purposes and state.
• Explain the importance of completing a reflective report on a lifting operation.

Planning the lift and the site

• Identify and demonstrate how to plan an area with exclusion zones for diverse lifting operations, identifying any proximity and underground hazards from supplied plans and drawings.
• Identify and plan an area with exclusion zones for diverse lifting operations, identifying safe access and egress before, during and after any lifting operation.
• Explain and identify the requirements for safe site access and egress for different types of lifting equipment.
• Demonstrate how to construct a safe system of work by producing risk assessments, method statements and lift plans from the information supplied.
• Prepare and explain lift plan information to all personnel involved in lifting operations.
• Specify and explain the positioning of the crane and load, identifying limiting factors and immovable obstructions that must be considered.
• Identify and explain how environmental factors outside the lift zone, but within the surrounding area, can affect planned lifting operations, and the possible outcomes.