What permits are needed for the use of a lifting platform?

Do you know the permits that are needed for the use of a lifting platform?

A number of permits are required for the use of a lifting platform. Not everyone can use a platform lift or a forklift. As it is a tool that can pose a risk to the person who handles it, it is necessary to meet a series of requirements.

Below, we explain in detail everything that is required according to the regulations.

1. What do the regulations say?

Law 31/1995. Prevention of occupational risks

Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention establishes the protection of the health of workers in the work environment. There are three articles of this law to which special attention must be paid: Art. 18, Art. 19 and Art. 41.

• S.18 The employee must be trained and informed to protect himself

It includes the measures to be adopted by the employer to ensure that workers receive all the information and training that will enable them to ensure their own safety.

Companies that have workers’ representatives must organise themselves to transmit all the information relating to the possible occupational risks that may occur to workers. That is, it will be their competence to be informed of any aspect that can be improved or necessary to be addressed to guarantee the safety of employees. The latter, in turn, must transmit it to the corresponding department.

Employees can make proposals and suggestions regarding everything that concerns their personal safety, health and well-being.

• Art. 19 The heart of the organization must be recycled in preventive matters

This article states that the worker, within the business organization, must receive theoretical and practical training that is appropriate to the activity he or she performs. In addition, it must be prolonged over time, so there must be constant recycling. It must be taught within the working day.

• Art. 41 Handling of corrosive or toxic products

This article summarizes that importers, manufacturers and suppliers have a duty to ensure that the equipment does not constitute any type of danger to the worker.

However, users must use the machinery, as they have been trained to handle it.

The aforementioned are also obliged to package and label them in such a way as to allow their conservation and handling in conditions of maximum safety.

When we talk about this, we are referring to products that can be corrosive or toxic. The type of risk it is aimed at, the level of protection and the correct way of use must be indicated on each product.

Likewise, the employer is obliged to guarantee order and security in this area and the employee to use the materials as indicated.

R.D. 1215/1997. Minimum Health and Safety Provisions for Work Equipment Workers

Article 5-1 refers to what has already been observed in Articles 18 and 19. In Art. 5-2 it refers to the experience of manipulation that is obtained from the objects of work.

Articles 3-4, 3-5 and 5-1 state that the use and handling of work equipment must be carried out by highly trained professionals, and the employer must adopt the appropriate measures to guarantee the safety of those who use this machinery. (3-4)

The employer must adopt the appropriate measures so that the work teams are maintained during the performance of the tasks that are going to be carried out with them. Maintenance should be performed based on the manufacturer’s instructions. (3-5)

On the other hand, we have Annex II that indicates the optimal and minimum conditions required for the condition of mobile work equipment, whether automotive or not. The driving of automotive work equipment can only be carried out by those who have specific training in the field and that trains them to work safely. All this information can be found in the R.D.1215/1997

2. Certificate of safe use of forklifts

This is a specific training aimed at handling truck operators that will enable them to handle those that have support for loads of up to 10,000 kilograms.

It should be noted that supervisors and trainers also have the need to carry out training. Two types of certificates are obtained: Type 1 and Type 2. The Type 1 It is for the use of pallet trucks, transport trucks, stackers and tractors. The Type 2, for forklifts.

Art. 433 R.D. 2177/2014 Safe use of scaffolding

The assembly, use and dismantling plan will be mandatory on suspended platforms of variable level, those temporarily installed on a building or in a structure for specific tasks.

Scaffolding made up of prefabricated elements, which are supported on different terrains, whose height exceeds 6 meters or have horizontal elements. Also in scaffolding installed outdoors, in access towers and mobile work towers in which the work is carried out at an altitude of more than 6 meters from the operating point located on the ground.

Something noteworthy is that in the case of scaffolding, which has the “CE” marking, the aforementioned plan may be changed by the specific instructions of the manufacturer.

Safe use of MEWPs

To correctly use and handle MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Personnel Platforms) it is necessary to have the UNE-58923:2020 training . This enables the conduction, use and management of different groups and types of MEWPs. Several certificates are available.

3. Do I need a Certificate or Card to use a MEWP?

We also want to mention specific training, since in addition to a special driving license, it is necessary to have knowledge about safety and accredit the course of use and operation of heavy machinery.

Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, you must have one type of driving licence or another. For this type of machinery, a special license is needed, different from the one required of drivers of cars or small trucks, since specific safety knowledge is needed.

About the need for a certificate or card for the use of a lifting platform, we tell you all about it in the following article.

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