Under the standard terms of a Contract Lift Boom & Platform Hire, the boom, platform, equipment, operator, all personnel supplied with the equipment, and insurance are the responsibility of the Equipment Owner. The Owner must supply the Appointed Person or Equipment Supervisor and is responsible for all aspects of the planning and execution of the lift.

The Owner will be insured for the following:

1. Loss or damage to the boom, platform, or equipment caused solely by the Owner’s negligence in the performance of the operations.
2. Loss or damage to third-party property caused by the negligence of the Owner in performing the operations, subject to certain limits.

Under Contract Lift conditions, the Hirer still retains certain liabilities against which the Hirer should be adequately insured. These include:

1. Negligence by the Hirer.
2. Inadequate or unstable ground conditions.
3. Inadequate or incorrect information supplied in connection with the goods being lifted.

The operation of booms and platforms is a high-risk activity that should only be planned and performed by individuals with the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications to understand the risks, properly assess them, and plan a safe method of working. BPHIRE strongly recommends that if a Hirer has any doubt about their competence to perform the operation safely, they should opt for the Contract Lift option.

Boom & Platform Hire Only

Under the model terms of the CPA Boom & Platform Hire Agreement, the Hirer must take responsibility for the boom, platform, and operator from the moment they arrive on site, which includes any travel on access roads once the equipment has left the nearest public highway.

The Hirer must plan the lift using a competent Appointed Person to produce a Method Statement and Risk Assessment for the operation in accordance with BS7121 and Health and Safety Guidelines. The Appointed Person must have the knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the operation including the characteristics of the load, ground conditions, equipment capacities, and outrigger loadings. It is also the responsibility of the Appointed Person to ensure that all equipment used in the operation is appropriate and carries the necessary test certificates. They are also responsible for ensuring all personnel involved in the operation are competent to perform their duties.

The Hirer should have adequate insurance to cover the following:

1. Any loss or damage to the boom, platform, or equipment whilst the equipment is under the control of the Hirer. This includes damage whilst the equipment is entering or leaving the site from the nearest public highway.
2. Loss or damage to the goods ‘on hook’ during the lifting operation.
3. Hired in Plant Insurance to cover for the costs of any loss or damage incurred whilst the equipment is under the Hirer’s control, including loss of revenue whilst the items are repaired or replaced.
4. Injury to the operator whilst under the control of the Hirer, along with injury to third parties or damage to property, arising from the operations.

Under the Boom & Platform Hire Conditions, the Equipment Owner is responsible for:

1. Supplying a competent operator and equipment fit for purpose to the specification defined by the Appointed Person along with the relevant certification for any equipment supplied.

In summary, the Hirer is responsible for specifying the equipment, planning, controlling, supervising, and insuring the operation and personnel.