Education and training of load binders

A licence card is needed by every employee who slings and attaches loads onto reserved technical lifting equipment in group A. Under § 17 ods. 2 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll., such loads may be slung only by a load slinger holding a valid licence card. For group B equipment, a written record of verified professional knowledge drawn up by an inspection technician is sufficient. It is also suitable for employers who, under § 6 a § 12 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., must ensure that loads are slung by authorised personnel.

It depends on the classification of the equipment. For lifting equipment in group A (load capacity above 1 000 kg), the participant obtains a load slinger's licence card under § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. For group B equipment, a written record of verified professional knowledge drawn up by an inspection technician is sufficient. Both the licence card and the record authorise the slinging of loads to the extent for which they were issued.

The load slinger's licence card is issued by a person authorised to provide education and training, not by the labour inspectorate. This follows from § 15 ods. 2 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll. in conjunction with § 16 ods. 1 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. From 1 April 2021, under Act No. 73/2021 Coll., the issuance of licence cards and certificates was transferred from the labour inspectorates to authorised persons.

The statutory minimum for refresher familiarisation is at least once every three years under § 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. For load slingers, a stricter interval is applied in practice — at least once every two years — arising from the technical standard STN 27 0143, not from the law. In addition, the licence-card holder must complete refresher professional training within five years under § 16 ods. 8.

An applicant must be at least 18 years old and medically fit under § 16 ods. 2 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. Medical fitness is evidenced by a medical assessment no older than six months (§ 16 ods. 4) on the basis of a preventive medical examination in relation to the work.

The basic load slinger course lasts 20 hours and includes both theoretical and practical preparation. It is based on the education and training framework under Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. It concludes with a written knowledge verification and a practical examination. For company groups, we can adapt the organisation and dates to the running of your operation.

The course combines theory and practice: safety regulations, the types and inspection of slinging gear (ropes, chains, slings, hooks), calculating the weight and determining the centre of gravity of the load, the effect of the slinging angle on the load on the slings, communication signalling and the principles of safe slinging, lifting and depositing of loads.

Yes. For a load slinger the practical part is crucial — it trains the correct selection and inspection of slinging gear, attaching and suspending the load, estimating the centre of gravity and communicating with the crane operator. The course concludes with a written test and a practical examination; only after passing them is the load slinger's licence card issued.

The deciding factor is the equipment's load capacity. Group A comprises power-driven cranes and hoists with a load capacity above 1 000 kg (and manually driven ones above 5 000 kg) — there a load slinger's licence card is required. Group B is power-driven equipment up to 1 000 kg — there a written record from an inspection technician is sufficient. This follows from Annex No. 1 and § 17 ods. 2 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll.

These are two separate professional competences. A load slinger's licence card authorises the slinging and attaching of loads, while operating the crane itself has its own licence card or document under Decree No. 508/2009 Coll. If an employee both slings loads and operates the equipment, they need both competences.

Under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll., an employer faces a fine of up to EUR 100 000, for a serious breach from EUR 1 000 to 200 000, and for an activity without a licence card from EUR 300 to 33 000. In the case of an accident causing serious harm the fine is at least EUR 20 000, and in the case of death at least EUR 33 000. The licence card is tied to a specific person, so everyone who slings loads must hold one.

Under § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., the load slinger's licence card is issued for an indefinite period. However, its validity is tied to a preventive medical examination within five years (§ 16 ods. 6), refresher professional training within five years (§ 16 ods. 8) and refresher familiarisation. If these are neglected, the licence card becomes invalid (§ 16 ods. 12).

An applicant should be at least 18 years old, have appropriate basic education and medical fitness for the work documented by a medical assessment. We can specify the exact entry requirements and the required medical assessment for a group of employees according to the job positions at your company.

Yes, we can organise the course for a group of employees directly at your company or operation, including the practical part on your lifting equipment. We adapt the scope and dates to your operation so that work downtime is as small as possible.

Basic course 74,90 € per person (prices exclude VAT). Refresher training 21,90 €. Update professional training (AOP) 44,90 €. We confirm the exact price based on the number of participants and the training format.