LOLER Regulations: Lifting Equipment Regs Explained

LOLER regulations are UK health and safety laws designed to ensure lifting equipment is safe to use and lifting operations are carried out without putting workers or others at risk. They establish legal requirements for equipment suitability, planning, supervision, inspections and maintenance.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply to a wide range of equipment, including cranes, forklift trucks, passenger lifts, hoists and lifting accessories.

For employers, understanding LOLER is essential to prevent accidents involving falling loads, equipment failure and unsafe lifting operations.

This guide explains what LOLER covers, employer responsibilities, inspection frequencies, thorough examinations and how organisations can manage their lifting equipment safety requirements.

What are LOLER regulations?

LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations form part of UK health and safety legislation and establish requirements for lifting equipment used at work.

LOLER regulations aim to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries caused by lifting or lowering loads, including people, materials and machinery.

The regulations place legal duties on employers, relevant self-employed individuals and organisations that own, operate or control lifting equipment.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), LOLER requires lifting equipment to be suitable for its intended purpose, appropriately marked and subject to thorough examinations where required.

The main requirements include:

• Lifting equipment must be sufficiently strong, stable and suitable for use
• Lifting operations must be properly planned by a competent person
• Equipment must be positioned and installed to minimise risks
• Lifting operations must be appropriately supervised and carried out safely
• Safe working loads must be clearly marked where required
• Thorough examinations must be conducted at appropriate intervals
• Inspection reports and examination records must be maintained

These requirements apply across multiple industry sectors, including construction, manufacturing, engineering, warehousing and facilities management.

What lifting equipment is covered by LOLER?

LOLER covers work equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, along with attachments used to anchor, fix or support that equipment.

The definition is broad because lifting operations occur in many working environments.

Examples of lifting equipment

Common types of equipment covered by LOLER include:

• Overhead cranes: Used to lift and transport heavy materials in industrial facilities
• Forklift trucks: Used for lifting, lowering and positioning palletised loads
• Passenger lifts: Used to transport people between floors
• Goods lifts: Used to move materials and equipment vertically
• Telehandlers: Used for lifting and positioning loads on construction sites
• Mobile elevating work platforms: Used to lift people to working positions
• Hoists: Used for lifting materials or people, depending on their design
• Building cleaning cradles: Suspended access platforms used for maintenance and cleaning

Other lifting equipment may include vehicle-mounted cranes, lifting platforms and specialised lifting machinery.

What are lifting accessories?

Lifting accessories are components used to attach loads to lifting equipment.

Examples include:

• Chains and chain slings
• Rope slings and wire ropes
• Shackles and lifting hooks
• Single or multiple leg slings
• Lifting beams and spreader beams
• Eyebolts and other lifting attachments

These components are important because failure can result in a load falling or becoming unstable.

Not every device that raises or moves an object is automatically covered by LOLER. For example, ordinary pallet trucks that only raise loads sufficiently to move them may fall outside LOLER, depending on their design and use.

Who must comply with LOLER regulations?

LOLER regulations apply to employers and other dutyholders responsible for lifting equipment used at work.

This includes organisations that own equipment and those using machinery supplied by another business.

Relevant self-employed individuals may also have responsibilities.

For example, a construction contractor using hired lifting machinery must ensure that appropriate examinations have been carried out and the equipment is suitable for the operation concerned.

Responsibility can be shared between equipment owners, employers and contractors depending on the circumstances.

Businesses should establish who is responsible for planning lifting operations, arranging examinations, addressing defects and maintaining documentation.

What are the main LOLER requirements?

LOLER establishes several specific requirements for lifting equipment and lifting operations.

Equipment must be strong and stable

Lifting equipment must have sufficient strength and stability for its intended use.

Employers must consider the weight of the load, equipment capacity, supporting structures and environmental conditions.

For example, overhead cranes and their supporting runways must be suitable for the loads they are expected to handle.

Safe working loads must be marked

Lifting equipment must be clearly marked with its safe working load where required.

The safe working load represents the maximum load that equipment can safely handle under specified conditions.

Lifting accessories should also display suitable identification and capacity information.

Different configurations, such as single or multiple leg slings, may have different lifting capacities.

Lifting operations must be properly planned

Every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely.

Planning should reflect the complexity and risks of the operation.

A straightforward lifting task may require relatively simple arrangements, while complex crane operations may need a detailed written lift plan.

The plan should consider the load, lifting equipment, personnel, surrounding environment and potential hazards.

Equipment must be positioned safely

Lifting equipment must be installed and positioned to minimise risks.

This includes preventing loads from striking workers, falling unexpectedly or moving into dangerous areas.

Additional precautions are necessary when lifting people, particularly where equipment failure could create serious consequences.

What is a LOLER inspection?

A LOLER inspection is commonly used to describe checks and examinations carried out to assess the safety of lifting equipment.

However, an important distinction exists between routine inspections and a statutory thorough examination.

Routine inspections may involve checking equipment condition, identifying visible damage and confirming that safety devices function correctly.

A thorough examination is a more detailed, systematic assessment of lifting equipment and safety-critical parts.

It must be completed by a competent person who can identify defects and assess whether they could affect safe operation.

The inspection process may involve:

• Examining structural components
• Checking lifting accessories for deterioration
• Assessing safety devices and braking systems
• Identifying cracks, deformation or corrosion
• Reviewing signs of excessive wear
• Examining relevant mechanical components
• Carrying out tests where necessary

The extent of the thorough inspection depends on the specific equipment, its design, condition and operating environment.

How often are LOLER inspections required?

Under LOLER Regulation 9, lifting equipment must undergo thorough examinations at prescribed intervals unless a suitable examination scheme specifies alternative arrangements.

The standard examination frequencies are:

For example, passenger lifts and equipment used for carrying people generally require six-monthly thorough examinations.

Overhead cranes and other lifting machinery not used for lifting people generally require examinations every twelve months.

However, inspection frequency may vary where a competent person establishes a written examination scheme based on equipment condition, usage and risk.

When are additional examinations required?

Thorough examinations may also be necessary:

• Before first use, subject to applicable exceptions
• Following installation or reinstallation where safety depends on installation conditions
• Following damage, failure or significant equipment modifications
• After exceptional circumstances that could affect equipment safety

New equipment may not require an initial thorough examination where the relevant declaration of conformity conditions are satisfied.

Routine inspections and maintenance may still be necessary between formal examinations.

Who can carry out a LOLER thorough examination?

A LOLER thorough examination must be carried out by a competent person.

The person carrying out the examination must possess appropriate practical experience and theoretical knowledge of the lifting equipment involved.

They must be capable of identifying defects, assessing their significance and determining whether equipment remains safe to use.

Competence may include:

• Knowledge of relevant lifting equipment regulations
• Understanding of equipment design and operation
• Experience identifying mechanical and structural defects
• Familiarity with applicable safety standards
• Ability to assess deterioration and safety-critical components
• Knowledge of examination and reporting requirements

Does the competent person need to be independent?

The competent person must be sufficiently independent and impartial to make an objective assessment.

This does not necessarily mean they must work for an external inspection company.

An appropriately qualified employee may undertake thorough examinations if they have sufficient competence and independence from the equipment’s maintenance and operational responsibilities.

However, the same individual should not assess their own maintenance work without adequate safeguards for impartiality.

Many organisations use specialist LOLER inspection services to provide technical expertise and an independent assessment.

What must a LOLER inspection report include?

Following a thorough examination, the competent person must produce a written report containing the information required by LOLER Schedule 1.

Thorough examination reports normally include:

• Identification of the lifting equipment
• Equipment location and relevant identification details
• Date of the thorough examination
• Scope of the examination
• Details of defects identified
• Defects that present an immediate or developing danger
• Remedial action requirements
• Date by which specified defects must be addressed
• Date of the next required examination
• Details of the competent person completing the examination

Where a defect presents an existing or imminent danger, the competent person must immediately notify the dutyholder and provide the required written report.

Certain dangerous defects must also be reported to the relevant enforcing authority.

How long must LOLER records be kept?

Record retention depends on the type of examination and documentation.

For example, reports relating to periodic thorough examinations must generally be retained until at least two years after the report is made or until the next report is made, whichever is later.

Other records, including initial examination reports and examination schemes, may have different retention requirements.

Businesses must ensure that inspection reports remain accessible and meet the applicable legal requirements.

Using health and safety management software can support structured record keeping, reporting and inspection administration.

What is the difference between LOLER and PUWER?

LOLER and PUWER are separate but complementary sets of UK work equipment regulations.

LOLER focuses specifically on lifting operations and lifting equipment safety.

PUWER, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, covers the safe provision and use of work equipment more generally.

PUWER establishes requirements relating to:

• Equipment suitability
• Maintenance and inspection
• Employee training
• Protective measures
• Safe operating procedures

LOLER introduces additional requirements relating to lifting operations, competent planning, safe working loads and statutory thorough examinations.

For example, forklift trucks are subject to PUWER requirements for safe operation and maintenance. Their lifting components and lifting operations may also be subject to LOLER.

Employers must consider both sets of regulations where applicable.

LOLER compliance checklist for employers

Businesses can use the following checklist to review their lifting equipment arrangements.

1. Identify lifting equipment: Maintain an accurate inventory of machinery and lifting accessories.
2. Assess lifting risks: Evaluate potential hazards associated with lifting and lowering loads.
3. Verify equipment suitability: Confirm equipment is strong, stable and appropriate for its intended purpose.
4. Check safe working loads: Ensure equipment and accessories are correctly marked.
5. Plan lifting operations: Arrange competent planning and appropriate supervision.
6. Confirm operator competence: Ensure people operating lifting equipment are adequately trained.
7. Schedule thorough examinations: Follow statutory intervals or a suitable written examination scheme.
8. Maintain examination records: Keep reports, inspection findings and relevant documentation.
9. Address defects: Remove unsafe equipment from service when necessary and arrange appropriate repairs.
10. Review maintenance arrangements: Ensure equipment is maintained according to applicable requirements and manufacturer’s instructions.

Regular health and safety inspections can support a structured approach to checking equipment condition and documenting safety concerns.

This checklist is a practical starting point and does not replace a full assessment of applicable legal requirements.

How can digital software support LOLER compliance?

Managing lifting equipment across multiple sites can create administrative challenges, particularly when organisations rely on separate spreadsheets, paper inspection forms and manual reporting.

Digital inspection software can help businesses organise equipment information, schedule activities and maintain accessible documentation.

Velappity provides inspection and asset monitoring functionality for organisations carrying out compliance monitoring activities.

Its asset monitoring software allows inspection teams to organise client assets by site, establish monitoring regimes and record findings through mobile forms.

Relevant capabilities include:

• Scheduling recurring inspection jobs
• Recording asset monitoring results
• Identifying non-compliances against defined parameters
• Generating inspection reports
• Providing clients with access to relevant results
• Completing field inspection forms offline

These features can support inspection administration and document management for businesses working with lifting equipment.

However, digital software does not replace the competent person’s statutory thorough examination or automatically certify equipment as LOLER compliant.

Employers remain responsible for ensuring that legal requirements are met.

What happens if a business fails to comply with LOLER?

Failure to comply with LOLER regulations can expose employees and members of the public to serious safety risks.

Accidents involving lifting equipment may result in crushing injuries, falls from height, equipment collapse or injuries caused by falling loads.

Businesses that breach applicable requirements may face enforcement notices, prosecution and financial penalties.

Unsafe lifting equipment can also cause operational disruption, damage to property and reputational harm.

Effective planning, appropriate supervision, competent thorough examinations and suitable maintenance arrangements help reduce these risks.

Conclusion

LOLER regulations provide an essential legal framework for the safe use of lifting equipment in UK workplaces.

Employers must ensure equipment is suitable, lifting operations are properly planned and supervised and statutory thorough examinations are completed by competent persons.

Maintaining accurate inspection reports, responding to defects and managing examination schedules are important responsibilities.

Velappity supports inspection teams through digital forms, recurring jobs, asset monitoring and reporting tools, helping organisations manage lifting equipment information and associated compliance activities more efficiently.

Frequently asked questions about LOLER

Is LOLER a legal requirement?

LOLER is UK health and safety legislation that establishes requirements for lifting equipment and lifting operations used at work.

How often should LOLER inspections be carried out?

Thorough examinations are generally required every six months for equipment used to lift people and lifting accessories, and every twelve months for other lifting equipment. An appropriate written examination scheme may specify alternative intervals.

Does LOLER apply to forklift trucks?

Forklift trucks used for lifting loads are generally covered by LOLER requirements relating to lifting operations and relevant lifting components. PUWER also applies.

Who is qualified to carry out a LOLER inspection?

A competent person with sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical experience must perform statutory thorough examinations. They must also be sufficiently independent and impartial.

What is the difference between a LOLER inspection and maintenance?

A LOLER thorough examination assesses the safety of lifting equipment and identifies dangerous defects. Routine maintenance involves servicing and repairing equipment to keep it in safe working condition. Both are important but serve different purposes.

Does LOLER apply to passenger lifts?

Passenger lifts used at work are generally subject to LOLER, including six-monthly thorough examinations unless a suitable examination scheme specifies otherwise.

Do lifting accessories need LOLER inspections?

Lifting accessories such as chains, slings and shackles generally require thorough examinations every six months unless an appropriate written examination scheme sp