LOLER Inspection FAQ'S and Information


Hi there! Have some questions about LOLER? Find the answers below. 

  • What Does LOLER Cover

    All Lifting Equipment and Accessories in the workplace.

  • What is Lifting equipment

    Lifting equipment' means work equipment for lifting and lowering loads. This includes lifting accessories and attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting the equipment .

  • Where does LOLER apply?

    Where the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies

  • When is a LOLER examination required?

    12 months for Lifting Equipment, 6 months for accessories, 6 months if Lifting Equipment is used for Lifting Persons.

  • Who can carry out a LOLER Inspection?

    A competent person providing that the person has the practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting accessories being examined to enable them to detect defects or weaknesses. For lifting equipment including plant and forklifts you must be a mechanical or electrical engineer. - FOR MORE INFOMATION SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE.

  • When does a Tail Lift require a weight test?

    When the competent person feels that the Tail Lift requires one or after a major repair, or no historical checks.

  • What is not covered under LOLER?

    Standing aid, Recliner baths, Riser chairs, Pillow risers, Mattress Elevator, and Lifting Cushions

  • Do winches come under LOLER as they are not lifting but pulling?

    Yes they do because of the severity, if the winch rope failed they come under the LOLER Regulations and need to be thoroughly examined

  • Do Safety Harnesses come under LOLER?

    Yes, Because under the LOLER regulation a person is classed as a "load"

  • How often is refresher training required

    HSE Reccomends every 3-5 years

  • What is a lifting operation?

    Regulation 8(2) of LOLER defines a lifting operation as '… an operation concerned with the lifting or lowering of a load'. A 'load' is the item or items being lifted, which includes a person or people

  • Can an apprentice carry out LOLER examinations?

    NO. due to lack of experience. They should have a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a service engineer in the equipment they wish to inspect  but they can attend a course but only certificated to LOLER awareness training. 

  • Is PUWER covered in the LOLER course?

    Yes, PUWER regulations are included as you cannot  conduct a LOLER examination without covering elements of PUWER.

For further reading on LOLER please refer to HSE

What is a 'thorough examination' under LOLER?

This is a systematic and detailed examination of the equipment and safety-critical parts, carried out at specified intervals by a competent person who must then complete a written report. This report must contain the information required by LOLER Schedule 1, including:

  • the examination date
  • the date when the next thorough examination is due
  • any defects found which are (or could potentially become) a danger to people
Where serious defects are identified, the competent person carrying out the examination must immediately report this verbally to the dutyholder. This should then be followed by the written report, a copy of which must also be sent to the relevant enforcing authority

What is a 'competent person'?

The term 'competent person' is not defined in law but the LOLER Approved Code of Practice and guidance (paragraph 294 on competent persons) states that:

'You should ensure that the person carrying out a thorough examination has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment.'


Although the competent person may often be employed by another organisation, this is not necessary, provided they are sufficiently independent and impartial to ensure that in-house examinations are made without fear or favour. However, this should not be the same person who undertakes routine maintenance of the equipment - as they would then be responsible for assessing their own maintenance work.

What are the specified intervals for regular thorough examinations?

Unless there is an 'examination scheme' specifying other intervals, thorough examinations should be conducted every:

  • 6 months, for lifting equipment and any associated accessories used to lift people
  • 6 months, for all lifting accessories
  • 12 months, for all other lifting equipment

Reasons to thoroughly examine your accessories



On a recent 2 day lifting equipment Inspection course, our instructor was shown some extreme examples of some accessories they had come across during their work.