LOLER — Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Your complete guide to understanding LOLER requirements
LOLER places duties on anyone who owns, operates, or controls lifting equipment used at work. This guide explains who the regulations apply to, what equipment is covered, the examination requirements, and the role of the competent person.
What is LOLER?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) are UK health and safety regulations that apply to employers, the self-employed, and anyone who controls lifting equipment used at work. The regulations sit alongside the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the more general Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
LOLER requires that lifting equipment provided for use at work is strong and stable enough for its intended purpose, marked to indicate its safe working load, positioned and installed to minimise any risks, and used safely — meaning every lifting operation is planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people.
Critically, LOLER requires that all lifting equipment is subject to thorough examination at prescribed intervals by a competent person. The competent person must provide a written report, and certain defects must be reported to the enforcing authority.
Who Must Comply?
- Employers who provide lifting equipment for use at work
- Self-employed persons who use lifting equipment
- Anyone who controls the use of lifting equipment (e.g. landlords, facilities managers)
- Those who hire or lease lifting equipment to others
- Anyone who installs or positions lifting equipment for use at work
Equipment Covered by LOLER
LOLER applies to all equipment used for lifting or lowering loads at work, including lifting people. This includes — but is not limited to — the following:
Key Duties Under LOLER
LOLER places the following specific duties on duty holders regarding their lifting equipment:
Strength and Stability
Lifting equipment must be of adequate strength and stability for each load, having regard to the loads it is designed to carry and the stresses induced by lifting.
Safe Positioning
Equipment must be positioned and installed so as to reduce the risk of the equipment or a load striking a person, or of a load drifting, falling freely or being released unintentionally.
Marking of Machinery
Lifting equipment must be clearly marked to indicate its Safe Working Load (SWL). Accessories must be similarly marked and, where necessary, accompanied by appropriate identification.
Planning and Supervision
Every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner.
Thorough Examination
All lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined before first use, and then at regular intervals by a competent person who will issue a report of thorough examination.
Record Keeping
Reports of thorough examination must be kept available for inspection. Defects identified as posing a danger to persons must be reported to the relevant enforcing authority.
Thorough Examination Requirements
Examination Intervals
The frequency of thorough examination depends on the type of equipment and how it is used. LOLER sets the following maximum intervals:
Every 6 Months
Equipment used for lifting persons — including passenger lifts, MEWPs used to carry people, stairlifts, and patient hoists.
Every 12 Months
All other lifting equipment — including cranes, forklifts, hoists, and lifting accessories such as slings, chains, and shackles.
Before First Use
All lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined before being put into service for the first time, unless it is accompanied by an EC Declaration of Conformity made within the previous 12 months.
The Competent Person
LOLER requires thorough examinations to be carried out by a competent person. This is someone with sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to detect defects and assess their significance.
The competent person must:
- Have sufficient knowledge and experience of the equipment type
- Be independent and impartial in their judgement
- Carry out thorough examinations and produce a written report
- Notify the duty holder immediately of any defect posing a danger
- Send a copy of certain defect reports to the enforcing authority
- Have authority to recommend that equipment be taken out of service
Defect Reporting
When a competent person identifies a defect during a thorough examination, they must take the following steps depending on the severity:
Imminent Danger
If there is a risk of serious and imminent danger, the competent person must notify the duty holder immediately. The equipment must be taken out of service until the defect is rectified.
Defect Becoming Dangerous
If a defect is not immediately dangerous but could become so, the competent person must specify a timeframe by which repairs must be completed before the equipment is next used.
HSE Notification
For defects involving an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury, the competent person must send a copy of the report to the relevant enforcing authority (HSE or local authority) as soon as practicable.
Relationship to PUWER
Most lifting equipment also falls within the scope of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). This means lifting equipment must comply with both sets of regulations.
PUWER imposes more general duties relating to the suitability, maintenance, guarding, and operator training for all work equipment. LOLER adds specific requirements for lifting operations, thorough examinations, and safe working load markings.
Read the PUWER regulation guideOfficial Source
This guide is provided for general information only. For the full regulatory text and official HSE guidance, visit:
HSE — LOLER GuidanceLOLER FAQs
Ready to Arrange Your Next Inspection?
Get in touch with our team today for a no-obligation quote and fast support.