LOLER stands for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (1998). LOLER testing of your lifting equipment is a Health and Safety Executive requirement, and ensures your equipment meets regulatory safety standards, protecting both your employees and your business.
This thorough examination ensures that all equipment is safe and fit for purpose and that it is maintained properly. It is the responsibility of the business who owns or rents the equipment to ensure that this examination takes place.
A LOLER thorough examination, carried out by an independent competent person, is required every 6 or 12 months depending on the type of equipment, before using equipment for the first time, whenever you assemble or install equipment in a new location, and following exception circumstances. In some instances, LOLER may require a full load test.
Cranes Testing
Lifting Appliances Testing
Lifting Accessories Testing
Hoists Testing
Fork Lift Equipment Testing
Handling Equipment Testing
Lifting Slings Testing
Trolleys Testing
General Load Testing
As well as ensuring you comply with UK health and safety law, your LOLER examination is needed to fulfil your insurance conditions, where you’ll be required to present your records in the case of an accident. LOLER documentation is also needed for most business contracts, where you’ll typically be required to show the correct paperwork before being allowed to operate on projects.
In addition, regular LOLER thorough examinations will help you monitor any equipment issues or deterioration, enabling you to put a maintenance or replacement plan in place and to identify and remove any defective equipment from use.
An independent, certified LOLER inspector from a third party such as Cyclone, will visit your premises to carry out a thorough examination of your lifting and handling equipment. The length of the examination could be anything from a few hours to a few days depending on the amount of equipment to be inspected.
The inspector will use a checklist which covers a number of areas to determine whether your equipment is safe and fit for use. You will need to provide them with the right information and documentation when asked, in order to demonstrate safe equipment and working practices to fulfil the requirements of LOLER certification. You will also need to have staff available throughout the inspection to answer any questions and provide any additional information.
The competent person undertaking your LOLER inspection will provide you with a written report of the thorough examination, along with details of any tests or inspections carried out. The LOLER report will also identify any defects requiring attention, and include details of what action needs to be taken.
Read our top 10 ways to ensure a successful LOLER inspection >
The competent person carrying out your LOLER examination will be working to a standard checklist, much like when you take your car for its MOT, to ensure all inspections are consistent and meet the regulatory requirements.
In order to comply with LOLER, you need to keep an equipment register which holds all the information and paperwork about your lifting equipment. Your LOLER inspector will want to see this. In the past, this would have been paper copies kept in a filing system, but electronic versions are now often used as they’re easier to update and make it quicker to access information when needed.
Typical documentation required for each item of equipment includes user instructions, the CE or UKCA certificate of conformity and the batch test certificate. Records of any maintenance or testing of the equipment should also be kept, such as your certificate of inspection. In addition to this paperwork, your equipment register should include basic information on each item of equipment such as the make, model, serial and batch numbers, inspection dates, and the date the piece of equipment was first used.
You will need to have documented training, risk assessments and lift plans available where appropriate, to demonstrate the safety procedures in place for your lifting operations.
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