LOLER thorough examinations explained

Key takeaways

Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined by a competent person under LOLER 1998.

Every 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for lifting accessories; every 12 months for other lifting equipment.

A written Report of Thorough Examination must be produced and kept available for inspection.

Dangerous defects must be reported to the duty holder and the relevant enforcing authority.

For lifting inspection firms, duty holders and facilities teams managing LOLER thorough examinations, defects and lifting-equipment evidence in Great Britain. It is UK-focused and not legal advice.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) require that lifting equipment used at work is thoroughly examined by a competent person at defined intervals.

How often?

Every 6 months for equipment used to lift people, and for lifting accessories
Every 12 months for other lifting equipment
Or in accordance with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person

What counts as lifting equipment?

Cranes, hoists, gantries, fork-truck attachments, MEWPs, tail lifts, and accessories such as chains, slings and beam clamps all fall within scope.

The Report of Thorough Examination

After each examination the competent person issues a report identifying any defects that are or could become a danger, and the timescale for remedial action. Records must be kept and made available to inspectors.

Keeping on top of it

Across a fleet of equipment, the hard part is never missing a due date. CertFlow keeps every asset on its 6 or 12-month cycle, generates the report, and tracks defects through to a satisfactory re-examination.

What inspectors commonly see

Lifting accessories with corrosion, distortion or worn pins and hooks

Chains, slings and webbing past their discard criteria

Missing, painted-over or illegible safe working load (SWL) marks

Reports of thorough examination overdue, undated or never followed up

Equipment still in service after a defect that should have stopped its use

Common mistakes

Using the 12-month interval for lifting accessories that normally need 6-month examination.

Leaving equipment in service after a dangerous defect has been reported.

Missing safe working load marks, serial numbers or accessory identification.

Treating pre-use checks as a substitute for a thorough examination.

Keeping reports separate from the asset history, making traceability difficult at audit.

Records to keep

Reports of Thorough Examination with dates, defects and next due dates.

Declarations of Conformity or relevant installation records where applicable.

Defect notifications and evidence of repair, quarantine or removal from use.

Examination schemes where used instead of fixed statutory intervals.

Asset register, SWL, location, identification and inspection history.