LIFTING AND ALLIED WORK EQUIPMENT (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, 2018

Regulations establish safety standards for the design, certification, and use of lifting equipment like cranes and hoists in Nigerian workplaces. They target construction companies, factories, port operators, and labour inspectors. This prevents accidents and fatalities through regular inspections and operator training.

What Is This Policy?

Regulations that prescribe safety requirements for the design, certification, inspection, and use of lifting equipment including cranes, hoists, forklifts, and lifting accessories in Nigerian workplaces.

Who Does It Target?

Construction companies using cranes and hoists Factories with lifting equipment Port and terminal operators Labour inspectors and equipment certification bodies

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Prevent lifting equipment accidents, collapses, and fatalities in Nigerian workplaces by imposing rigorous certification, inspection, and operator training requirements.

Key Features

Equipment Certification: All lifting equipment must be tested and certified before use, and the certificate displayed or available at the worksite. Safe Working Load: Every piece of lifting equipment must be marked with its safe working load (SWL) and must not be overloaded. Periodic Testing: Equipment must undergo periodic load testing and inspection by an approved inspector. Operator Competency: Only trained and certified operators may operate lifting equipment.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: All factories and construction sites using lifting equipment Beneficiaries: Factory workers; construction workers Funding: Federal Government

How to Access

All lifting equipment must be registered and hold current test certificates Operators must produce training certificates on request by inspectors Equipment with expired certificates must not be used Application method: Contact the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Factory Inspectorate Division.

Important Terms

Use of uncertified lifting equipment is illegal and unsafe Overloading is a criminal offence under the Factories Act Equipment involved in a serious incident must not be moved until inspected

Official Resources

Website: https://www.labour.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

Legal Framework

The Lifting and Allied Work Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2018 are issued under the Factories Act 2004 by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. They operate alongside the Employees Compensation Act 2010, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act 2007, and the Oil Fields (Safety) Regulations (for petroleum industry lifting operations). International alignment is with the European Machinery Directive standards (EN 14502), ISO 4309 (Cranes), and ILO Convention 167 on Safety and Health in Construction.