A hoist is a device used to raise or lift something by mechanical means.
Various types of hoists are used in the workplace, such as:
- Material hoists
- Automotive lift hoists
- Personnel hoists
- Chain hoists
- Roofer's hoists
- Manual hoists
- Scaffold hoists
- Boom truck hoists
Employers
Where a hoist is used:
- develop and implement safe work procedures respecting the use of hoists
- ensure workers have received proper training in the safe work procedures developed for the use of hoists
- ensure workers comply with the safe work procedures.
Operator requirements:
- Only a person who is authorized to practise the trade of hoist operator under the Trade of Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator Regulation, Manitoba Regulation 91/2000 is allowed to operate a boom truck hoist with a rated load of 7,300 kg or more.
Maintenance and inspection schedule:
- Develop and implement a maintenance and inspection schedule of all hoists in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
Rated load:
- Ensure that a hoist has a plate or weatherproof label permanently secured to it that legibly shows the rated load.
Avoid using the hoist for the following:
- Do not use hoisting equipment for lifting people.
- Do not pass a load over workers.
- Do not tip a load (load and hoisting equipment may become unstable, putting workers at serious risk of injury and causing damage to the hoist and rigging components)
- Do not insert the point of a lifting hook in a link of the chain.
- Do not hammer a sling into place.
- Do not leave slings dangling from the load hook. Place sling hooks on the sling ring when carrying slings to the load.
- Do not raise loads higher than necessary to clear objects.
- Do not exceed a hoist's load limit.
- Do not leave suspended loads unattended.
- Do not block the controls while raising and lowering the hoist.
- Do not leave the controls while the lift is in motion
Other Resources
- CAN/CSA Z256-M87 (R2016) Safety Code for Material Hoists
- CAN/CSA Z185-M87 (R2016) Safety Code for Personnel Hoists
- Guide for Automotive Lifts
- Part 23 Cranes and Hoists - Manitoba Regulation 217/2006
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Trade of Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator Regulation, Manitoba Regulation 91/2000
Check out our Shop Talk and safe work procedure template on hoists. (Below the FAQs are more resources related to hoists.)
