WH Scott
Lifting Consultation Services
Independent, site-based advice on lifting operations, equipment selection and complex handling problems — backed by in-house design, fabrication and statutory inspection across the UK and Ireland.
Independent Advice on Lifting and Handling Problems
A lifting consultation puts a qualified lifting specialist on your site to look at how loads are actually moved, where the risk and the lost time sit, and what a safe, workable solution looks like. It is designed for operators facing an awkward or repetitive lift, an ageing crane installation, or a handling task that catalogue equipment cannot solve.
Because the assessment comes first and the product second, recommendations are based on suitability, safety and whole-life cost — not on what we happen to stock. The initial site visit is free of charge.
What a Lifting Consultation Covers
Every consultation starts with the load, the building and the task. Typical outputs include:
- Independent assessment of your lifting, handling and access requirements on site
- Engineered solutions for heavy, awkward or repetitive lifts, including gantry systems, jib cranes, lifting beams and bespoke tooling
- Equipment specification, duty-cycle assessment and supplier-agnostic recommendations
- Structural and civil engineering input through specialist partners where building loadings or foundations are affected
- Review of existing installations, including examination regimes, modernisation and end-of-life options
- Project scoping, budget costing and optional end-to-end project management
We advise on loads from a few hundred kilograms to several hundred tonnes across manufacturing, construction, utilities, rail and healthcare, including equipment that must integrate with existing steelwork and building services.
How the Consultation Works
- Brief. A short call or email to understand the load, the site and what you are trying to achieve.
- Site visit. A qualified specialist attends, takes measurements and identifies the constraints — headroom, access, floor and roof loadings, duty cycle and existing equipment.
- Solution development. Concept design and equipment specification, with structural calculations and third-party design verification where the application calls for it.
- Recommendation. A written report with drawings and costed options. You are free to appoint any contractor you choose, or we can deliver the project in full.
From Concept to Compliant Installation
Advice is only useful if someone can build it. If you choose to proceed, the same group can deliver the whole project: equipment is designed and fabricated in-house to BS EN 1090 Execution Class 2, with coded welding, non-destructive testing, full material traceability and CE or UKCA marking, and is proof load tested before it enters service.
Once installed, equipment moves straight onto a planned maintenance and thorough examination and certification programme run from 14 depots across the UK and Ireland, so there is no gap between commissioning and compliance.
Lifting Compliance in the UK and Ireland
In Great Britain, regulation 8 of LOLER 1998 requires that every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. Planning should be proportionate to the risk: routine lifts may sit under a generic plan, while complex or tandem lifts need a written plan from someone with specific competence. BS 7121 is the recognised code of practice for the safe use of cranes.
In the Republic of Ireland the equivalent duties sit in Regulation 42 of S.I. No. 299 of 2007, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, which requires lifting operations to be properly planned, appropriately supervised and safely carried out, alongside the periodic thorough examination duties enforced by the Health and Safety Authority. We advise against the requirements that apply where the equipment will actually be used, and can put the resulting assets onto inspection to S.I. No. 299 in Ireland or LOLER thorough examination in the UK.
Certifications & Standards
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Related Services
Lifting Equipment Design, Fabrication & Installation
Lifting equipment design, fabrication and installation services delivering fully engineered, compliant structural solutions for cranes, gantries, and bespoke lifting systems. Combining advanced CAD design, stress analysis, and coded fabrication, the service supports turnkey project delivery across industrial sectors.
Load Testing
Load testing services for lifting equipment ensure assets operate safely within their rated capacity and comply with applicable safety regulations. Proof load testing validates structural integrity, performance, and certification readiness across a wide range of lifting systems and load-bearing structures.
Overhead Gantry Cranes
Single and double girder gantry cranes from 100kg to 250 tonnes, specified around your building, load and duty cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the first site visit really free?
Yes. The initial visit and assessment are provided at no cost, so you can get an expert view on the problem before committing to anything.
What is included in a lifting consultation?
A lifting consultation includes a site assessment, identification of lifting challenges, and development of tailored engineering solutions such as lifting beams, gantries, or bespoke handling systems.
Is the advice truly independent of equipment manufacturers?
Yes. The service is delivered independently, with no obligation to specific manufacturers, ensuring recommendations are based solely on suitability, safety, and performance.
Do you provide full project delivery after consultation?
Yes. Following consultation and design, you can either appoint your own contractors or have the provider manage the project through to completion.
Can you support structural and civil engineering aspects of lifting projects?
Yes. Where a lift affects building steelwork, floor loadings or foundations, we bring in specialist civil and structural engineering partners and coordinate their input with the lifting design.
Do I have to use WH Scott for the work?
No. The report, drawings and specification are yours to tender however you wish. Many clients ask us to deliver the project, but there is no obligation.
Get in Touch
Tell Us About Your Project
Whether you need a single piece of equipment or a fully engineered lifting system, our specialists can help. Tell us your load, environment and compliance requirements — we’ll do the rest.