Electrically operated magnetic lifting devices are present in the form of either single magnets or grouped configurations, suspended from chains, wires or otherwise attached to lifting equipment. They can be used for lifting and transporting most ferrous metal stock or manufactured components. They are widely used in many industrial sectors including metal/components manufacture and storage, shipbuilding, as well as the breaking and scrap handling industries.
Magnets can be round, rectangular or of a specific form constructed for a specific purpose. A number of different types of magnet are available, which include:
electric lifting magnet
permanent lifting magnet
electro-permanent lifting magnet.
Legal requirements are set out under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER).
This guidance, issued by the Safety Assessment Federation, explains these requirements and gives information on further issues such as equipment characteristics, and the examination process.
It is available here.
The Safety Assessment Federation Ltd November 2021