Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

Full title: The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Statutory Instrument: SI 1998/2307
Made: 1998
Came into force: 5 December 1998

LOLER applies to lifting equipment and lifting operations used at work.

The regulations place duties on employers and others who have control of lifting equipment, including requirements relating to the suitability of equipment, lifting operations, positioning and installation, marking, organisation of lifting operations and Thorough Examination.

Where is the Thorough Examination requirement?

The principal statutory requirement is found in:
LOLER Regulation 9 – Thorough Examination and Inspection

Regulation 9 establishes when lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined and provides for examination at specified intervals.

This includes requirements relating to:

  • First use
  • Installation and reassembly
  • Deterioration
  • Periodic Thorough Examination
  • Lifting equipment used for lifting people
  • Lifting accessories
  • Written schemes of examination
  • Inspection between Thorough Examinations where appropriate

The HSE identifies Regulations 9, 10 and 11 as the principal provisions dealing with Thorough Examination, reporting and records.

Where are the examination intervals found?

The commonly quoted six-month and twelve-month intervals are found within Regulation 9.

In broad terms, where no written scheme specifies another interval:

Regulation 9(3) provides for lifting equipment used for lifting persons and lifting accessories to be thoroughly examined at least every six months.

Other lifting equipment is generally subject to examination at least every twelve months.

The exact statutory wording and circumstances should always be considered rather than applying a blanket interval to every item.

Where are reporting requirements found?

LOLER Regulation 10 – Reports and defects

Regulation 10 establishes requirements relating to reports following Thorough Examination and the notification of dangerous defects.

Where an examination identifies a defect which is, or could become, a danger to people, the relevant requirements for notification and action apply.

Where are record-keeping requirements found?

LOLER Regulation 11 – Keeping of information

Regulation 11 deals with the retention and availability of information relating to Thorough Examinations and reports.

What must a LOLER report contain?

The statutory requirements for the content of a Thorough Examination report are found in:

LOLER Schedule 1 – Particulars to be included in reports of thorough examination

Schedule 1 sets out the information that must be included in the report.

This includes matters such as:

  • Identification of the equipment
  • Examination date
  • Date of the previous examination
  • Date when the next examination is due
  • Identification of any defect which is, or could become, a danger to people
  • Details of any remedial action required
  • The name and address of the person making the report
  • The date of the report

HSE confirms that there is no prescribed report form, provided the report contains the required information specified by Schedule 1.

What supports LOLER?

The principal HSE Approved Code of Practice is:
L113 – Safe use of lifting equipment

L113 provides practical guidance on compliance with LOLER and explains the requirements in considerably more detail.

HSE describes L113 as the Approved Code of Practice and guidance for LOLER and confirms that it covers matters including the competent person, examination and inspection requirements, reporting, defects and information keeping.

The LOLER ACOP should therefore be considered alongside the actual Regulations rather than treated as a replacement for them.