The Appointed Person for Lifting Operations: Role Explained
Every lifting operation in the UK requires planning by a competent person. On anything beyond the most routine repetitive lift, that person is the appointed person — a role defined in BS 7121 and required in substance by LOLER Regulation 8. It is the most responsible role in lifting, and it is regularly filled by whoever happens to be senior on the day rather than by someone actually qualified to do it.
That matters because the appointed person carries the planning decisions: what the load actually weighs, what crane is suitable, where it can stand, what the ground will take, what the exclusion zone is, and who does what. When a lifting incident is investigated, the lift plan and the competence of the person who wrote it are among the first documents requested.
This guide explains the role, what a lift plan must contain, how it relates to the crane supervisor and slinger signaller, and what the training involves.
Key points
- LOLER Regulation 8 requires lifting operations to be planned by a competent person.
- BS 7121 defines the appointed person, crane supervisor and slinger signaller roles.
- The appointed person plans; the crane supervisor controls the operation on the day.
- A lift plan must address load, equipment, ground, environment, people and contingency.
- Training is typically five days plus significant prior lifting experience.
What the appointed person is responsible for
The appointed person takes overall responsibility for planning the lifting operation and ensuring it is carried out safely. That includes assessing the load and confirming its weight and centre of gravity, selecting suitable lifting equipment and accessories, deciding where the crane can stand and confirming the ground can take it, determining the method and the sequence, defining exclusion zones, specifying the personnel required and their competence, and producing the lift plan itself.
Crucially, the appointed person also has the authority to stop the operation. That authority is meaningless unless the organisation genuinely supports it, and one of the recurring failure patterns in lifting incidents is an appointed person under commercial pressure to proceed.
- Confirm load weight, dimensions and centre of gravity
- Select crane, configuration, slings and accessories
- Assess ground bearing capacity and crane position
- Define exclusion zones and environmental limits
- Specify personnel, competence and supervision
- Produce, issue and brief the lift plan
What a lift plan must contain
A lift plan is not a form-filling exercise, though it can be short for a simple repetitive lift. It must contain enough detail that the people executing the lift can do so without making assumptions.
At minimum it should record the load details, the equipment selected including duty chart references and configuration, the crane position and ground assessment, the sequence of operations, the personnel and their roles, communication arrangements, environmental limits such as maximum wind speed, exclusion zone arrangements, and contingency plans for the foreseeable problems — an unexpected load weight, deteriorating weather or an equipment defect discovered mid-lift.
Repetitive lifts of similar loads in similar conditions can be covered by a generic plan, which is proportionate and sensible. Complex lifts, tandem lifts, lifting near live services or over occupied areas, and any lift where people could be affected need a specific plan.
How the roles fit together
BS 7121 sets out a chain of roles. The appointed person plans and takes overall responsibility. The crane supervisor controls the operation on site on the day, ensuring it runs to the plan and stopping it if conditions change. The crane operator operates the crane within the duty chart and the plan. The slinger attaches the load; the signaller directs the crane operator. Slinger and signaller are frequently the same person on smaller operations.
The distinction between appointed person and crane supervisor is the one most often blurred. The appointed person can be off site once the plan is issued and briefed; the crane supervisor must be present. On smaller operations one person may hold both, but only if they are competent in both and physically able to do both.
Training, experience and cost
Appointed person courses typically run five days and cover BS 7121, LOLER duties, crane types and duty charts, ground bearing pressure calculations, sling angles and accessory selection, load assessment, exclusion zones, and lift plan production. Assessment usually involves producing lift plans for scenarios of increasing complexity.
The course is not a starting point. Candidates need substantial prior lifting experience — as a crane operator, slinger signaller, crane supervisor or engineer — because the course teaches the framework rather than the underlying feel for loads and equipment.
Typical cost is £1,200 to £2,200 depending on scheme and location, with refresher courses of around two days at intervals of three to five years.
- 5-day course, typically £1,200–£2,200
- Substantial prior lifting experience expected
- Refresher typically 2 days every 3–5 years
- Assessment based on producing real lift plans
Contract lift versus crane hire
This distinction decides who supplies the appointed person, and it is a commercial decision with significant liability consequences. In a standard crane hire, the customer is responsible for planning the lift and must supply a competent appointed person. In a contract lift, the crane company takes responsibility for planning and execution, supplying the appointed person themselves.
Businesses that hire cranes occasionally frequently do not realise they have taken on the appointed person duty. If your organisation hires cranes and has nobody qualified to plan lifts, either train someone or specify contract lifts. Doing neither leaves a gap that only becomes visible after something goes wrong.
Lifting operation roles under BS 7121
| Role | Responsibility | Present on site? | Typical training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointed person | Plans the lift, overall responsibility | Not necessarily | 5 days plus experience |
| Crane supervisor | Controls the operation on the day | Yes, always | 2–3 days plus experience |
| Crane operator | Operates within plan and duty chart | Yes | 5–10 days novice |
| Slinger signaller | Attaches loads, directs the crane | Yes | 2–3 days |
| Lift plan | Document defining the whole operation | Issued and briefed | Produced by appointed person |
Frequently asked questions
Does every lift need an appointed person?
Every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person. Routine repetitive lifts can run under a generic plan, but somebody competent must have produced that plan, and complex lifts need a specific one.
Can the crane operator be the appointed person?
Not for the same lift in most circumstances. The roles are separate for good reason, and the appointed person needs to be able to assess the operation objectively rather than while operating.
How long does appointed person training take?
Typically five days, with refreshers of around two days every three to five years. Substantial prior lifting experience is expected before attending.
Who supplies the appointed person on a hired crane?
In a standard crane hire, the customer does. In a contract lift, the crane company does. Confirm which arrangement you are buying before the crane arrives.
Is BS 7121 legally binding?
It is a British Standard rather than law, but it is the recognised means of complying with LOLER Regulation 8 and is the benchmark used in investigations and by insurers.
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