Factories Act 1961

26 Chains, ropes and lifting tackle. E+W+S

(1) The following provisions shall be complied with as respects every chain, rope or lifting tackle used for the purpose of raising or lowering persons, goods or materials:—

(a) no chain, rope or lifting tackle shall be used unless it is of good construction, sound material, adequate strength and free from patent defect;

(b) subject to subsection (2) of this section, a table showing the safe working loads of every kind and size of chain, rope or lifting tackle in use, and, in the case of a multiple sling, the safe working load at different angles of the legs, shall be posted in the store in which the chains, ropes or lifting tackle are kept, and in prominent positions on the premises, and no chain, rope or lifting tackle not shown in the table shall be used;

(c) no chain, rope or lifting tackle shall be used for any load exceeding its safe working load as shown by the table mentioned in paragraph (b) of this subsection or marked as mentioned in subsection (2) of this section;

(d) all chains, ropes and lifting tackle in use shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every period of six months or at such greater intervals as the Minister may prescribe;

[F1 (e) no chain, rope or lifting tackle, except a fibre rope or a fibre rope sling, shall be taken into use in any factory for the first time in that factory, unless it has been tested and thoroughly examined by a competent person and a record of the test and thorough examination and of the results thereof, containing the particulars required by the Lifting Plant and Equipment (Records of Test and Examination etc.) Regulations 1992, has been obtained and the particulars in that record are kept available for inspection;]

(f) every chain and lifting tackle except a rope sling shall, unless of a class or description exempted by certificate of the chief inspector upon the ground that it is made of such material or so constructed that it cannot be subjected to heat treatment without risk of damage or that it has been subjected to some form of heat treatment (other than annealing) approved by him, be annealed at least once in every fourteen months or, in the case of chains or slings of [F2 13 millimetres] bar or smaller, or chains used in connection with molten metal or molten slag, in every six months, except that chains and lifting tackle not in regular use need be annealed only when necessary;

[F3 (g) a record containing the particulars required by the Lifting Plant and Equipment (Records of Test and Examination etc.) Regulations 1992, shall be kept in respect of all such chains, ropes or lifting tackle, except fibre rope slings.]

(2) Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in relation to any lifting tackle if its safe working load or, in the case of a multiple sling, the safe working load at different angles of the legs is plainly marked upon it.

(3) In this section “lifting tackle” means chain slings, rope slings, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 26(1)(e) substituted (30.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/195, reg. 5, Sch. 2 para. 3(c).

F2 Words substituted by S.I. 1983/978, regs. 3, 4, Sch. 1

F3 S. 26(1)(g) substituted (30.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/195, reg. 5, Sch. 2 para. 3(d).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 26(1) restricted (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3073, reg. 33(2)(a)(i).

C2 S. 26(1)(e) amended (30.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/195, reg. 2, Sch. 1 Pt.I.

C3 S. 26(1)(g) amended (30.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/195, reg. 2(3).