The Complete LOLER

Regulations Manual

Chase House, 16 The Parks, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0JQ. lloydsbritish.com

The Complete LOLER
Regulations Manual
Contents
The various rules and regulations that apply to lifting What is LOLER? 3
equipment can often be confusing, even for those with What lifting equipment 4
years of experience in the industry. The main offender is covered by LOLER?
in this instance is LOLER, which, due to its depth of Exceptions by LOLER 4
detail and the vast range of equipment it covers,
When does LOLER apply? 5
can cause even the most knowledgeable to become
bewildered. How often should checks 6
and inspections be
completed?
For those tasked with being the LOLER duty holder,
we know how overwhelming this can be, especially Who has obligations under 6
LOLER regulations?
when you want as little disruption to daily business as
possible. That’s why we’ve listed everything you need LOLER requirements for 7
duty holders
to know about LOLER, from what it stands for, to what
examinations consist of, to help you ensure that your Who qualifies as a 8
business is compliant. ‘competent person’ under
LOLER?

What does a LOLER 9

‘thorough examination’
involve?

How do you store records 10

under LOLER regulations?

How do I choose a LOLER 11

inspection provider?
Why choose Lloyds British 12
as your LOLER inspection
provider?
What is LOLER?
LOLER is the abbreviation for the The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
(1998), which is the UK Government’s official regulation for people and companies who own,
operate, or have control over, all types of lifting equipment. It falls under the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 and it’s in place to ensure that all lifting equipment is suitable and safe
for use.

LOLER regulations require that all lifting operations must be properly planned by a ‘competent
person’, as well as appropriately supervised and carried out safely. This means that workers must
be properly trained to use lifting equipment, sites should be properly inspected and any work
must be planned thoroughly by somebody with appropriate experience and knowledge before
any lifting operation takes place.

In addition to the planning and supervision of lifting operations, LOLER requires that all
equipment used for lifting is regularly maintained, inspected and suitably marked to indicate that
it is fit for purpose. In many cases, this involves regular thorough examinations and inspections,
where lifting equipment is checked by a ‘Competent Person’ for any defects. These are then
reported to the person responsible for the equipment and possibly the relevant enforcing
authority, depending on the defect.
What lifting equipment is covered by LOLER?
LOLER applies to a range of lifting equipment used at work across different industry sectors.
Some examples of the different types of equipment covered by the LOLER regulations include:

Overhead Cranes Patient Hoists Motor Vehicle Lift Vehicle Tail Lifts
(AND THEIR SUPPORTING RUNWAYS) (AND CRANES FITTED TO VEHICLES)

It also applies to all lifting accessories, which are used to attach the load to lifting equipment, such as:
Fibre or rope slings  Chains  Hooks  Eyebolts  Spreader beams
(SINGLE OR MULTIPLE LEG)

Exceptions to LOLER
Although LOLER covers a wide range of lifting equipment and their potential accidents, there are
some exceptions that aren’t covered by the regulation, such as pallet trucks (where there is a low
chance of the load falling) and escalators.

It is important to note that, regardless of LOLER, all equipment should be maintained in accordance
with The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
When does LOLER apply?
LOLER applies throughout Great Britain, and wherever the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is in
force. It applies solely to activities undertaken at work, such as:

A crane on hire to a construction site, a passenger lift provided for the use of workers in an office
block, refuse collection vehicles (lifting on public roads), patient hoists or fork-lift trucks.

When it comes to activities that require lifting equipment, LOLER applies every single time the
equipment is used, whether you are the owner of it or not.

Under LOLER regulations, this equipment must have been subjected to thorough examinations and
marked with a safe working load in order to be compliant. Thorough inspection is necessary to ensure
that lifting equipment is safe to perform lifting operations with minimal risk throughout its lifecycle.
The LOLER regulations state that a thorough inspection should be completed at regular intervals
throughout a number of different situations, including:

1 2
Before the lifting
equipment is used for the
first time
This isn’t always necessary,
but is essential when there
is not a valid Declaration of
Conformity made less than
12 months earlier.
Where there is a risk of
deterioration
This is when the lifting
equipment is exposed to
conditions that could result
in danger or damage. For
examples of this in specific
types of equipment,
please read our blog.
3
Upon
installation
This includes re-installation
and assembly of the lifting
equipment at another site.

Concerned about how to perform best-practice lifting operations?

Don’t worry, here’s everything you need to know.
How often should checks
and inspections be completed?
In order to maintain standards and stay in-line with LOLER regulations it’s important that your
equipment checks and inspections are completed at regular intervals (weekly/monthly/quarterly).

The HSE offers guidance to employers on how regularly these inspections should take place.

At its most simplistic, lifting equipment and accessories relating to devices which lift people should be
inspected every 6 months whilst larger equipment meant for non-human lifting should be inspected
every 12 months.

For a deeper look into the frequency of LOLER inspections,

check out our guide here.

Who has obligations under LOLER

regulations?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, it is an employer’s legal responsibility to provide
a safe working environment and LOLER falls under this requirement.

According to HSE’s Guide to Lifting Equipment at Work, if you are an “employer or self-employed
person providing lifting equipment for use at work”, or if “you have control of the use of lifting
equipment” then the LOLER regulations will apply.

If you fall under either of these categories, you are classed as a ‘duty holder’ in the eyes of the HSE.
It is, therefore, your responsibility to ensure that all lifting equipment in your possession meets the
requirements of LOLER.
LOLER requirements for duty holders

1. LOLER Inspection and Thorough Examination

Both regular inspection and thorough examination are key requirements of
LOLER. Lifting equipment that is “exposed to conditions causing deterioration
which could lead to dangerous situations” must be subjected to regular
thorough examination by a competent person.

2. Testing
Duty holders must ensure that all lifting equipment and accessories are
sufficiently strong, stable and suitable for the proposed task, which often
requires testing services.

3. Marking
LOLER requires duty holders to make sure that equipment in their possession
is visibly marked with any information that should be taken into account for its
safe use. This includes safe working loads and usage instructions.

4. Planning and Supervision

Under LOLER, all lifting operations should be planned, supervised and
carried out safely by people who are deemed competent by the
duty holder.

5. Reporting
Following a thorough examination, the competent person must submit reports to
the employer for any appropriate actions required. As the duty holder, you must
also keep relevant information relating to your lifting equipment, including these
reports, LOLER inspection documentation and EC Declarations of Conformity.

In order to be compliant with LOLER, you must ensure the requirements

outlined above are met. However, the best way to ensure compliance is to
make sure that lifting equipment undergoes regular inspection and thorough
examination by a competent person.
Who qualifies as a ‘competent person’
under LOLER?
The term ‘competent person’ can be subjective. However, the HSE defines a competent person as
someone with “appropriate industry knowledge and experience working with the specific type of
equipment in order to thoroughly examine to an excellent standard, identify any issues and report
their findings”. By selecting a person with these skills, you can be sure that they are qualified to
analyse the importance of any defects the equipment has, as well as having peace of mind that they
will be able to evaluate these in relation to the continued safe use of the item being inspected.

It is important to remember that the competent person you choose to do the inspection is
independent and impartial, so that decisions that could compromise the safety of the lifting
equipment aren’t made based on personal or company bias.

As long as you appoint a person based on these competencies, the HSE allows you the freedom to
choose who you like. However, while LOLER does not expressly condemn the person carrying out the
maintenance from also conducting the examination, it is strongly recommended that the inspector
you choose should not be the person in charge of performing regular maintenance.

This is because they would be inspecting their own work, which opens itself up to potential bias. Not
only this, but there are additional benefits that come with outsourcing an inspection supplier, such as
an increased chance that they will be able to spot defects and rectify them.

Conflicted on how to go about

choosing a competent LOLER inspector?
Download our free guide of the essential questions to ask
your engineering inspection supplier.

Download
What does a LOLER ‘thorough examination’
involve?
A thorough examination is defined by the HSE as a “systematic and detailed examination of the
equipment and safety-critical parts”. It is carried out at specified intervals by a competent person
who must then complete a written report once the examination is complete.

When your equipment requires an examination, a competent inspector will come to your business
and perform it. The examination generally consists of three stages:

1 2 3
Visual examination and Measurements of Non-destructive testing
functional checks wear and load testing (rare)

When a defect is identified that could cause harm to people, you will be notified immediately by the
inspector. Once you have been made aware, it is your responsibility to take direct action to manage
any risks by ensuring the defect is highlighted and that no employee uses the equipment until it is
fixed.

Under LOLER regulations, it is strongly recommended that you take time to make a record of the
defect - even if it is repaired immediately. The reason for this is so that you are able to keep track of all
equipment testing and make records of defects in case they occur again in the future. This will ensure
the continued safe use of the equipment throughout its lifecycle.

For more information on how best to prepare your business for LOLER inspections,
please read our blog.
How do you store records
under LOLER regulations?
Accurate record-keeping is just as important to LOLER regs as the inspection and testing. How can you
prove that an inspection has taken place if your records are all over the place?

Alongside your thorough examinations reports, there are two other types of records which must be
kept. They include EC Declaration of Conformity (DoC) (soon to be UKCA) & records of inspection.

1 2
For thorough examination
reports -
if one lacks the DoC - a copy
of the initial report for lifting
equipment should be kept
for the life of the machinery.
Reports which cover lifting
accessories should be kept for
two years after examination.
The EC Declaration of
Conformity -
soon to be UKCA DoC - is a
statement to confirm that the
lifting equipment meets the
requirements of the Machinery
Directive. The owner should
retain this document for the
life of the equipment.
3
Lastly, in-service
inspection.
These are often based
on manufacturer’s
recommendations and
instructions. More general,
in-service inspections
should be routine in order to
spot defects and issues early.
These reports should be kept
until the following inspection
takes place and supersedes it.

This is just an introduction to proper record management under LOLER regs.

For a more in-depth view, check out our detailed blog on the subject.
How do I choose a LOLER inspection
provider?
If companies are found to be non-compliant with LOLER, they can be subjected to serious penalties
ranging from large fines to prosecution.

With this in mind, it’s essential to make sure that your inspector is compliant.

The inspector you choose should be qualified to do the examination in accordance with LOLER
regulations and be able to identify faults in your equipment and act accordingly based on their
findings. They should have the relevant experience and attributes as specified by LOLER, to make
them competent to undertake the examination.

Experience
There is no set definition of ‘experience’, but it must be substantial and appropriate - the inspection
provider you choose needs to have significant knowledge of the industry, as well as a number of years
of experience working with the specific equipment that needs to be inspected. This is important,
because not every inspector will have the same amount of experience.

Attributes
An inspector’s key attributes vary depending on the type and scale of the lifting equipment. To find
out what these are, you need to look into:

Accreditations and Memberships Reputation

These include SAFed which plays a key role
in maintaining high standards of safety within
the workplace and LEEA, the leading trade
association for all those involved in the lifting
industry.
Be sure to choose an inspector based on
their company’s reputation; for example, look
into how long they have been conducting
examinations and reviews from other clients.

For industry-leading assistance with your

LOLER inspection requirements,
please contact our team today.
Request a Quote
Why choose Lloyds British
as your LOLER inspection provider?
In an industry where every lost hour of production can directly impact day-to-day business, you
need a competent inspection supplier who is able to examine your equipment to a high standard
with minimal disruption.

With Lloyds British, you not only gain assured competence and compliance, but peace of mind.

For over 200 years, Lloyds British has been helping businesses across the lifting services industry
be compliant with LOLER regulations with specialist testing, inspection, maintenance, certification
and training. Our long list of accreditations and memberships is your guarantee that we deliver
our services efficiently, effectively and in line with LOLER regulations, health and safety standards
and industry best practices.

Get in touch today with our expert team today.

0345 6099 216
sales@lloydsbritish.com
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