Loler checks for lighting and speaker stands.

[Stu Technical]

Do the industry standard manfrotto wind up lighting stands and typical speaker stands need Loler checks?

I don't really class them as full on lifting gear.

[kerry davies]

I don't believe that LOLER applies per se but as LOLER is an extension of PUWER and that requires inspections, tests and record keeping it doesn't make any difference. Manfrotto's definitely are "Work Equipment."

Edited April 27, 2022 by kerry davies

[kitlane]

I agree with Kerry that at the very least they would be covered by PUWER, but I',m not sure why they wouldn't come under LOLER. A wind-up Manfrotto is raising and lowering a load by a non-trivial distance. The definition of lifting equipment in LOLER is very broad and I think it would include a wind-up lighting stand. AC Entertainment include lighting stands as one of the categories of equipment for which they offer LOLER testing.

[Dave m]

Maybe rather simplistic, but the Manfrotto wind up effectively uses a winch to lull the load up?

 

therefore - LOLER?

[Simon Lewis]

When I was working in an HE environment, our rigging equipment was included in the overall site's lifting equipment inspection, (which our department didn't have to pay for - so no problem if extra gear got added!). We showed the insurance inspector a pair of Manfrotto 087 stands, and he pronounced them to be lifting equipment and inspected them every year afterwards. 

[dje]

“lifting equipment” means work equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it;

I am quite curious as to why people think that they don't meet this definition? Is it like... well I'm only lifting a little bit ? Where do we draw the line between a hand-winch mounted to a manfrotto stand, and a hand-winch which takes a chandelier up to the ceiling? Is it because the lifting equipment only forms part of the device, it is not 'the device'? For me, a Manfrotto wind-up stand is most definitely a piece of work equipment used for lifting and lowering loads.

 

[sunray]

15 hours ago, dje said:

“lifting equipment” means work equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it;

I am quite curious as to why people think that they don't meet this definition? Is it like... well I'm only lifting a little bit ? Where do we draw the line between a hand-winch mounted to a manfrotto stand, and a hand-winch which takes a chandelier up to the ceiling? Is it because the lifting equipment only forms part of the device, it is not 'the device'? For me, a Manfrotto wind-up stand is most definitely a piece of work equipment used for lifting and lowering loads.

 

Having read the beginning of this thread, while chatting with a colleague on the basis of 'a guy thinks Manfrottos shouldn't be classed as lifting equipment', I was very surprised he had neverthought to get his tested when the chain sets etc are checked.

To me anything with a winch/wire is lifting gear and requires regular inspection/testing if public are involved.

[dje]

7 hours ago, sunray said:

To me anything with a winch/wire is lifting gear and requires regular inspection/testing if public are involved.

Absolutely. It utilises a mechanical system to raise and lower a load in the workplace. It is lifting equipment by definition. 

I have heard some strange ones too - I met somebody absolutely insistent that manual chain blocks didn't need inspecting because LOLER only applies to electric motors!