What is LOLER and why does it matter?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) establish legal requirements for the safe use of workplace lifting equipment, covering everything from overhead cranes to patient hoists. Duty holders must ensure equipment is strong, properly positioned, used safely, and subjected to regular thorough examinations by competent persons with accompanying written reports.
Non-compliance can result in HSE enforcement action, prohibition notices, financial penalties, and worker injury or death.
What is a thorough examination under LOLER?
A thorough examination is a formal, systematic and detailed assessment performed by a competent person, someone with sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge to identify defects and assess their significance.
Examinations must occur:
- Before equipment is first used (unless a declaration of conformity exists less than 12 months old)
- After exceptional circumstances affecting safe operation
- At intervals specified in an examination scheme, or if none exists: every 6 months for people-lifting equipment, every 12 months for other lifting equipment
This statutory requirement differs from routine inspections, which are less formal checks conducted more frequently based on risk assessment.
What must a report of thorough examination include?
Schedule 1 of LOLER mandates the following report contents:
Equipment identification
- Description including type and model
- Safe working load (SWL) or rated capacity
- Unique identifier (serial or asset number)
- Examination location address
Examination history and dates
- Date of last thorough examination
- Date the current examination was performed
- Date the next examination is due
Safe working load details
Reports must record the SWL and any conditions affecting it across different configurations.
Defects and observations
The competent person documents:
- Defects presenting immediate danger, with required repair dates
- Non-dangerous defects requiring monitoring or repair, with recommended timescales
- An assessment of fitness for continued service
Dangerous defects require immediate notification to both the duty holder and the relevant enforcing authority.
Competent person details
Full name, address and signature of the examiner (or their organisation) establish accountability and traceability.
Competent persons must send report copies to duty holders as soon as practicable, with copies to enforcing authorities for any dangerous defects.
Who can carry out a LOLER thorough examination?
Only competent persons can perform thorough examinations. These typically include:
- Independent third-party inspection bodies and engineering surveyors (UKAS-accredited or LEEA members)
- In-house engineers with appropriate training, qualifications and experience demonstrating sufficient organisational independence
The critical principle is independence and objectivity, examiners responsible for day-to-day equipment operation or maintenance should not sign the thorough examination report.
Common mistakes in LOLER reports of thorough examination
Incomplete equipment identification. Generic descriptions without serial numbers prevent demonstrating which specific item was examined.
Vague defect descriptions. Defects require sufficient detail for duty holders and future examiners to understand precisely what was found, its location, and its significance. Phrases like “general wear noted” fall short of the required standard.
Incorrect defect classification. Competent persons must distinguish between existing dangers, potential dangers, and observations. Misclassifying dangerous defects or failing to notify authorities represents a serious statutory breach.
Missing next examination dates. Omitting future due dates prevents schedule management and violates Schedule 1 requirements.
Paper-based record loss. Manual systems create risks of lost, damaged or misfiled reports, critically problematic during incidents or HSE inspections.
Thorough examination intervals: quick reference
| Equipment type | Minimum interval |
|---|---|
| People-lifting equipment (hoists, platforms, scissor lifts) | Every 6 months |
| Lifting accessories (chains, slings, shackles, hooks) | Every 6 months |
| Other lifting equipment (cranes, forklifts, winches) | Every 12 months |
| First-time installations or post-exceptional circumstances | Before first use or after the event |
These represent minimum statutory intervals. Competent persons may specify more frequent examinations through examination schemes based on risk, equipment age, operating conditions or manufacturer guidance.
LOLER thorough examination vs. PSSR written scheme of examination
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) impose similar thorough examination requirements for pressure systems. Organisations managing both lifting equipment and pressure systems face a significant administrative burden maintaining separate documentation.
Keeping LOLER records: retention periods
While LOLER doesn’t specify minimum retention periods in primary legislation, HSE guidance and best practice recommend:
- Retaining the most recent report for each lifting equipment item as a minimum
- Retaining all reports for the equipment’s working life where practicable
- Retaining reports for at least two years after equipment decommissioning
Maintaining complete examination histories for equipment lifetimes represents advisable legal risk management.
Frequently asked questions about LOLER thorough examinations
Can duty holders perform their own thorough examinations? Only if they possess independent competence. The key test involves sufficient technical competence and organisational independence to identify and report defects without commercial or operational pressure.
What happens if equipment fails thorough examination? Dangerous defects require immediate equipment removal from service. The competent person must notify the duty holder and enforcing authority without delay.
Does LOLER apply to mobile elevated work platforms? Yes. MEWPs qualify as people-lifting equipment requiring thorough examination at least every 6 months with accompanying reports.
What distinguishes a LOLER certificate from a thorough examination report? “LOLER certificate” is common industry terminology but doesn’t appear in the regulations. LOLER requires a “report of thorough examination” per Schedule 1, some inspection bodies present this as single-page certificates; others produce detailed multi-page reports. Both remain valid if they contain all Schedule 1 information.
Can LOLER reports be stored digitally? Yes. LOLER contains no paper requirement. Digital storage is fully compliant provided records remain accessible, tamper-evident and retrievable when needed.