The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) put duties on companies and people who own, operate or control lifting equipment. LOLER requires that all equipment used for lifting is safe for use, appropriate for the task, suitably marked and is subject to a statutory periodic ‘Thorough Examination’ carried out by a ‘Competent Person’.
The LOLER Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) defines a Competent person as ‘ a person with such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment’.
LOLER requires that all Thorough Examinations are recorded and that any defects or issues are reported to the owner/responsible person and, where necessary, the relevant Enforcing Authority.
What is Lifting Equipment?
As defined in LOLER, lifting equipment is any type of equipment used for the lifting and lowering of a load. This includes accessories and attachments. The pictures above show just a few examples of lifting equipment, listed below is a list of more examples, but it is not limited to:
- Shackles, eyebolts and eye nuts
- Fibre belt and Round slings
- Chain slings
- Cargo nets, wire rope slings and hooks
- Overhead travelling cranes
- Electric chain hoists and Gantry cranes
- Lifting beams, frames and spreaders.
- Forklift trucks
- Telescopic handlers
- Excavators and material handlers
- Vehicle ramps
- Jacks
- Boat carriers
- Passenger and goods lifts
- Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)
How often should lifting equipment be inspected?
LOLER defines the frequency for lifting equipment Thorough Examinations as follows:
- 6 monthly for lifting accessories
- 6 monthly for lifting equipment and accessories used for lifting people
- 12 monthly for other lifting equipment
- Any other frequency as determined by the Competent Person or in accordance with a written scheme of examination
RD Engineering Inspection Services can help with identifying your lifting equipment inspection requirements and can help with solutions for its control. We will carry out Thorough Examinations with as little disruption to your business as possible and produce detailed statutory reports. At all times we will be professional, safe, understanding and keen to build a happy relationship with our clients that lasts. Keeping up with compliance can sometimes be difficult, let us help with monitoring when your inspections are next due and giving you plenty of notice before the next due date.
