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What is LOLER?
The LOLER regulations aim to reduce risks to people’s health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at work. In addition lifting equipment is also subject to the requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
What equipment is covered by the Regulations?
Lifting equipment includes any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. The Regulations cover a wide range of equipment including tail lifts for commercial and wheelchair use, fork-lift trucks, lifts, hoists, mobile elevating work platforms, and vehicle inspection platform hoists. The definition also includes lifting accessories such as chains, slings, eyebolts etc. If you allow employees to provide their own lifting equipment, then this too is covered by the Regulations.
Do the Regulations apply to me?
If you are an employer or self-employed person providing lifting equipment for use at work, or you have control of the use of lifting equipment, then the Regulations will apply to you.
What is a thorough examination?
A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed
examination of the lift and all its associated equipment by a
'competent' person. Its aim is to detect any defects which are,
or might become, dangerous, and for the competent person to
report them to the dutyholder and, if appropriate, the
enforcing authority (the Health and Safety Executive or Local
Authority) so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.
Selecting a competent person
A competent person is someone who has sufficient technical
and practical knowledge of the lift to be able to detect any
defects and assess how significant they are. It is also
important that the competent person is sufficiently
independent and impartial to allow them to make an objective assessment of the lift.
What happens if the examination reveals a defect?
If you are notified of a serious defect you should immediately take the lift out of service until the fault has been addressed. If you do not take the lift out of operation you will be in breach of the law. The competent person may also notify you of defects which need to be made good within a certain timescale. In this case, you should take steps to have the defective equipment repaired or replaced within the specified time, and not use the lift after that time unless the defect has been satisfactorily remedied.
What records are required?
The competent person is legally required to send you a
written and signed report of the thorough examination as
soon as practicable. This should normally be within 28 days,
but if there is a serious defect which needs to be addressed
you should expect to receive the report much sooner.
If the competent person identifies a defect which presents
an ‘existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury’
they are also legally required to send a copy of the report
to the enforcing authority.
How long do I keep the records?
You are legally required to ensure that reports of thorough
examinations are kept available for consideration by health
and safety inspectors for at least two years or until the next
report, whichever is longer.
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Download the HSE Guidance on lifts and thorough statutory examinations
(400kbyte Adobe PDF)
Download HSE's simple guide to LOLER
(60kbyte Adobe PDF)
Right-click on the images and
select "Save Target As..."
Alfa Tail Lifts provides full certification in compliance with HSE guidelines
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