Contract Lift

A contract lift in London is the arrangement where the crane hire company assumes full legal responsibility for the lifting operation. Under LOLER 1998, every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person, and on a contract lift that competent person is supplied by us. London Crane Hire has been carrying out contract lifts across the capital since 2008, working with clients who want the assurance of an expert team managing the entire process from lift planning through to completion.

This page explains exactly what a contract lift involves, who is responsible for what, when a contract lift is the right choice versus a crane-only arrangement, and how the process works from initial enquiry to lift completion.

What a Contract Lift Includes

A contract lift from London Crane Hire includes every element of the lifting operation under one agreement. There is no separate coordination between a crane company, a rigging contractor and an independent appointed person. We supply and manage everything.

Appointed Person

The appointed person is the individual who holds statutory responsibility under LOLER 1998 for planning the lifting operation. This person must be competent, which in practice means having specific training and experience in lifting operations of the type being planned. On a contract lift, our appointed person reviews the load to be lifted, the lifting accessories required, the crane specification, the lift geometry and all site-specific hazards before producing the lifting plan.

Our appointed persons are LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) trained and hold current appointed person certification. They have planned hundreds of lifts across London's construction, industrial and infrastructure sectors and are familiar with the site conditions and constraints that characterise urban lifting operations.

Method Statement and Lifting Plan

The method statement and lifting plan are the core documents that govern the lifting operation. The lifting plan sets out the crane position, outrigger positions and loading, the load weight and description, the lift geometry (radius, height, hook path), the rigging configuration including all lifting accessories and their rated capacities, communication arrangements, emergency procedures and exclusion zones.

The method statement describes the sequence of events from the crane arriving on site through to the completion of the lift, the responsibilities of each member of the lift team, and the controls in place to manage the identified risks. Both documents are reviewed with the client's site team and the principal contractor's site manager before the lift proceeds.

Crane and Operator

We supply the crane and a CPCS-certified operator matched to the machine type and the requirements of the lift. The operator performs a pre-use check of the crane before every shift and works strictly to the lifting plan. If anything on site does not match the conditions described in the lifting plan, the operator is authorised to stop the lift and refer back to the appointed person before proceeding.

Lifting Accessories and Slinging

All lifting accessories used on a contract lift are supplied by our team. Slings, shackles, spreader beams and lifting frames are all certificated, current with their LOLER thorough examination schedule and matched to the load requirements of the specific lift. We do not use client-supplied lifting accessories on contract lifts unless they have been specifically reviewed and accepted by our appointed person.

A trained slinger/signaller from our team rigs the load and signals the crane operator throughout the lift. This eliminates the common hazard of untrained site workers attempting to attach slings to loads they are not qualified to rig.

Legal Responsibilities on a Contract Lift

The distinction between a contract lift and crane-only hire is fundamental to understanding the legal position of both parties. On crane-only hire, the client retains responsibility for the lifting operation. The client must provide a competent appointed person, produce the lifting plan and take responsibility for the safe execution of the lift. The crane company's responsibility is limited to supplying a serviceable machine and a competent operator.

On a contract lift, the crane hire company takes on the appointed person role and assumes responsibility for planning and supervising the lifting operation. The client's obligations under LOLER 1998 are discharged by the crane hire company. This is the correct arrangement when the client does not have a competent appointed person in-house or when the technical complexity of the lift demands specialist lifting engineering expertise.

Regulation 8 of LOLER 1998 specifically requires that lifting operations are properly planned by a competent person, supervised appropriately and carried out in a safe manner. A contract lift with a specialist crane hire company provides a straightforward route to demonstrating compliance with this duty.

When Is a Contract Lift the Right Choice?

A contract lift is appropriate in a number of specific situations. If the client does not have a LEEA-trained appointed person available for the lift, a contract lift is the correct approach. If the lift involves unusual load geometry, complex rigging requirements or a multi-crane operation, the specialist expertise of a professional appointed person reduces the risk of error significantly. If the client's insurance or the principal contractor's health and safety plan requires a contract lift for operations above a certain weight or complexity threshold, that requirement determines the approach.

Many facilities management companies and building owners use contract lifts as a matter of policy for all significant lifting operations, because it simplifies the competence and accountability chain and removes the requirement to maintain appointed person competence in-house.

Contract Lift Process

Every contract lift begins with a free site survey. One of our lifting engineers visits the site, assesses the load, reviews the access, checks ground conditions, identifies overhead hazards and discusses the client's programme requirements. Following the survey, we produce a written quotation covering the crane, operator, appointed person, lifting accessories, slinger/signaller and any associated logistics.

Once instructed, our appointed person produces the formal lifting plan and method statement. These are issued to the client and the site's principal contractor for review. The documents are finalised and any required changes are incorporated before the lift date.

On the day of the lift, our team arrives at the agreed time, carries out the pre-lift briefing with all parties, confirms that site conditions match the lifting plan, and proceeds with the lift in accordance with the method statement. A post-lift record is completed and issued to the client on the same day.

Contact our team to discuss a contract lift or request a free site survey online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a contract lift and crane hire with operator?

On crane hire with operator, the client provides the appointed person and the lifting plan. The client retains legal responsibility for the lifting operation. On a contract lift, we supply the appointed person, produce the lifting plan and take responsibility for the operation. The contract lift arrangement is appropriate when the client does not have a competent appointed person in-house or when the lift complexity requires specialist planning expertise.

Does a contract lift cost more than crane hire with operator?

A contract lift costs more than crane-only hire because it includes additional services: the appointed person, the formal lifting plan, the lifting accessories and the slinger/signaller. However, when clients calculate the full cost of providing these elements themselves, including the cost of employing or subcontracting an appointed person and sourcing certified lifting accessories, the all-in cost of a contract lift is often comparable. There is also significant value in the risk transfer, which may reduce insurance costs and simplify the client's compliance obligations.

How far in advance do I need to book a contract lift?

We recommend booking at least five working days in advance of the required lift date to allow time for the site survey, lifting plan preparation and document review. For complex lifts involving unusual loads, multi-crane operations or lifts in sensitive environments such as hospitals or occupied buildings, we recommend a longer r-8f5b73 time of two to four weeks. Emergency contract lifts are available where the circumstances require immediate response; contact our team to discuss availability.