How often does lifting equipment need a thorough examination under LOLER?
In service, lifting equipment that is subject to wear must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every 6 months if it lifts people or is a lifting accessory, and at least every 12 months otherwise, unless an examination scheme sets the intervals. It also needs examining before first use in most cases and after exceptional events.
When a thorough examination is needed
LOLER is the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, which apply in Great Britain. The duties fall on employers, self-employed people the regulations cover, and anyone who controls the equipment. A competent person must thoroughly examine lifting equipment:
- before first use, unless it is new and comes with a declaration of conformity made no more than 12 months before it goes into service
- after installation and before first use, and after assembly at a new site or location, where its safety depends on how it is installed
- while in service, where it is exposed to conditions that cause deterioration liable to lead to danger: at least every 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for lifting accessories, at least every 12 months for other lifting equipment, or in line with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person
- each time exceptional circumstances occur that could jeopardise its safety
HSE gives damage or failure, long periods out of use, and major changes such as modifications or replacing critical parts as examples of exceptional circumstances. It says equipment used to lift people is on the 6-month interval even if it was not designed for that.
The law does not define competent person. HSE's guidance says the examiner needs enough practical and theoretical knowledge of that type of equipment to spot defects and judge their importance, and should be independent enough to examine without fear or favour. It should not be the person who maintains the equipment.
Examples on site
- Telehandlers. HSE lists telehandlers and fork lifts as lifting equipment. For fork-lift trucks it says the lifting chains, forks, mast, cylinders and attachments need examining every 12 months or to a written scheme. Ask your examiner what they cover on a telehandler.
- Excavators used for lifting. HSE says this is acceptable if the manufacturer permits it, the machine has dedicated lifting points marked with a safe working load, and it is used to the manufacturer's instructions and has been thoroughly examined. Over 1 tonne capacity it should have a rated capacity indicator and boom check valves.
- Hoists. HSE lists hoists as lifting equipment. Where a hoist's safety depends on how it is erected, it is examined after installation and after assembly at a new site, and one that carries people is on the 6-month interval.
- MEWPs. These lift people, so the 6-month interval applies.
- Chains and slings. These are lifting accessories, so 6 months applies and the safe working load must be marked. HSE says they do not normally need formal inspection between examinations if users make proper pre-use checks, and that damaged or knotted chains and kinked or frayed ropes should not be used.
Reports, defects and records
The examiner must tell you straight away about any defect that is, or could become, a danger to people. A written report must follow as soon as practicable, to you and to anyone you hired the equipment from, with the Schedule 1 details such as the date, the latest date for the next examination and any defects. If a defect involves an existing or imminent risk of serious injury, the examiner must also send a copy to the relevant enforcing authority.
You must not use the equipment until the defect is put right, unless the report sets a later time for a defect that could become dangerous in future. Hired-in equipment must come with evidence of its last required examination.
Where appropriate, a competent person must also inspect between examinations and record it in writing. Regulation 11 sets how long you keep the paperwork:
- declaration of conformity: for as long as you operate the equipment
- first-use report: until you stop using the equipment, or two years after the report for a lifting accessory
- installation or assembly report: until you stop using the equipment at that place
- in-service report: until the next report is made or two years pass, whichever is later
- inspection records between examinations: until the next record is made
HSE says records need not be on paper, but you should be able to produce a written copy.
Planning the lift
Regulation 8 says every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. HSE says the plan should fit the job. A routine lift may be planned by the slinger or operator doing it, and a generic plan may cover repeated simple lifts. A complex lift, such as two cranes together, needs a written plan from someone with matching expertise. The plan should cover foreseeable risks such as working under suspended loads, overturning and overhead power lines.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: LOLER 1998, regulation 7 (marking of lifting equipment)
- legislation.gov.uk: LOLER 1998, regulation 8 (organisation of lifting operations)
- legislation.gov.uk: LOLER 1998, regulation 9 (thorough examination and inspection)
- legislation.gov.uk: LOLER 1998, regulation 10 (reports and defects)
- legislation.gov.uk: LOLER 1998, regulation 11 (keeping of information)
- legislation.gov.uk: LOLER 1998, Schedule 1 (report contents)
- HSE: Thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment
- HSE: Planning and organising lifting operations
- HSE: Safe lifting by machine
- HSE: Lifting equipment used for lifting people at work
- HSE: LOLER frequently asked questions