Step Change in Safety – Lifting and Mechanical Handling Guidelines
The Lifting and Mechanical Handling Guidelines published by Step Change in Safety provide industry-recognised best practice for the safe planning and execution of lifting and mechanical handling activities in offshore and onshore operations. These guidelines address both routine and complex activities and are widely applied across the energy sector.
Because lifting and mechanical handling remain among the highest-risk activities, consistent and clearly structured guidance is essential. Cranes for You includes this Step Change in Safety guideline in the Knowledge Centre to support safer operations, clearer responsibilities and alignment with recognised international best practice.
Summary of the Guidelines
The guidelines provide a structured framework covering the full lifecycle of lifting and mechanical handling activities. Key elements include:
- Planning and risk management: All lifting and mechanical handling activities must be planned, risk-assessed and executed under a documented safe system of work.
- Roles and responsibilities: Clear definition of responsibilities for duty holders, supervisors, lifting teams and supporting functions.
- Lift categorisation: Activities are categorised by risk, determining the level of planning, engineering input and approval required.
- Equipment selection and suitability: Lifting appliances, mechanical handling equipment and accessories must be selected to suit the task and operating environment.
- Inspection and maintenance: Equipment must be inspected, maintained and examined according to defined schedules and manufacturer requirements.
- Mechanical handling alternatives: Emphasis on eliminating or reducing lifting by using mechanical handling solutions where practicable.
- Operational controls: Includes communication, exclusion zones, environmental limits and control of simultaneous operations.
- Learning from incidents: Incident reporting, investigation and continuous improvement are integral to safe lifting management.
Practical Relevance in Lifting Operations
Applying these Step Change in Safety guidelines helps organisations to:
- Reduce the likelihood of dropped objects, overloads and uncontrolled movements
- Standardise lifting practices across projects, contractors and locations
- Improve decision-making through clear lift categorisation and approval levels
- Demonstrate compliance with recognised industry expectations during audits
- Strengthen safety culture by embedding planning and risk control into daily operations
- Encourage the use of mechanical handling solutions to minimise manual and crane lifts
These guidelines are relevant for offshore oil & gas, offshore wind, construction, maintenance, logistics and heavy-lift projects.
Official Source
This guidance is published by Step Change in Safety under the title Lifting and Mechanical Handling Guidelines.
The current edition is the 8th Revision, reflecting updated industry learning, incident analysis and alignment with modern safety-management practices.
Related Knowledge Articles
- IOGP – Lifting & Hoisting Safety Recommended Practice
- Guidebook for Lifting Supervisors
- Hoisting and Rigging Safety Manual
- Safe Lifting: Why Every Lift Requires a Lift Plan
Ready to Improve Safety and Efficiency?
Safe lifting and mechanical handling require discipline, planning and consistent application of best practice.
Download the Step Change in Safety guideline from this page and integrate its principles into your lifting and mechanical-handling procedures to improve safety, consistency and compliance.
