posted 4th September 2026
What Equipment Requires a LOLER Inspection? Complete UK Equipment Guide
One of the biggest problems businesses face with LOLER compliance is not necessarily arranging an examination — it is knowing *which equipment actually requires one*.
LOLER applies to a much wider range of equipment than many businesses realise.
If your company uses equipment to lift or lower people or loads, it is important to establish whether it falls within the scope of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
This guide looks at some of the most common types of equipment that may require LOLER thorough examination.
Does LOLER apply to lifts?
Yes.
Lifts used in workplaces can fall within LOLER.
This can include:
- Passenger lifts
- Goods lifts
- Platform lifts
- Stair lifts
- Service lifts
- Other lifting equipment used to raise or lower people or loads
HSE guidance specifically confirms that lifts provided for use in work activities are subject to LOLER thorough examination requirements.
Equipment used to lift people will generally require examination at six-monthly intervals unless a suitable examination scheme specifies otherwise.
Do cranes require a LOLER inspection?
Yes.
Cranes are one of the most obvious examples of lifting equipment covered by LOLER.
Depending on the equipment and application, this can include:
- Overhead cranes
- Gantry cranes
- Jib cranes
- Mobile cranes
- Vehicle-mounted cranes
- Lorry loaders
- Other workplace lifting cranes
The examination frequency will depend on the equipment and its use.
Do HIAB cranes require LOLER?
Vehicle-mounted cranes, commonly referred to as HIABs, are lifting equipment and can fall within LOLER.
The vehicle itself may also have other legal inspection requirements, which should not be confused with LOLER.
This is particularly important for businesses operating fleets of vehicles equipped with lifting equipment.
The LOLER thorough examination concerns the lifting equipment and its safety for lifting operations; it does not replace other legal requirements applicable to the vehicle.
Do lifting chains and slings need LOLER examinations?
Yes.
Lifting accessories are an important part of LOLER compliance.
Examples include:
- Chain slings
- Webbing slings
- Wire rope slings
- Shackles
- Eyebolts
- Hooks
- Lifting points
- Certain lifting beams
- Other accessories used to attach or support loads during lifting
Lifting accessories are generally subject to six-monthly thorough examination.
This is one of the areas where businesses can accidentally become non-compliant by concentrating on their main lifting machine while overlooking the accessories used with it.
Do forklifts require LOLER?
Forklift trucks can be subject to LOLER because they are capable of lifting and lowering loads.
However, forklift trucks are also subject to PUWER requirements, so businesses should understand the distinction between the two regulations.
HSE guidance specifically identifies forklift trucks as equipment that may require both LOLER thorough examination and PUWER inspection.
The exact requirements can depend on the equipment and how it is used.
Do telehandlers require LOLER?
Telehandlers can fall within LOLER where they are used for lifting and lowering loads.
The configuration and attachments being used should also be considered.
A business should not assume that because the telehandler itself has been examined, every attachment used with it is automatically covered by the same examination.
Do vehicle lifts require LOLER?
Vehicle lifts can fall within LOLER where they are used to lift vehicles as part of work activities.
This can include lifting equipment used within:
- Vehicle workshops
- Garages
- Commercial vehicle facilities
- Transport depots
- Fleet maintenance facilities
The examination should assess the equipment's safety-critical components and its suitability for continued lifting operations.
Does care home equipment require LOLER?
Yes.
Patient lifting equipment is an important example of LOLER equipment because it is designed to lift people.
Examples can include:
- Mobile patient hoists
- Fixed hoists
- Ceiling track hoists
- Other patient lifting equipment
Because this equipment lifts people, the standard LOLER examination interval is generally six months.
What about lifting equipment in care homes?
Care homes can have a surprisingly large amount of equipment subject to LOLER.
This can include:
- Passenger lifts
- Platform lifts
- Stair lifts
- Patient hoists
- Ceiling track hoists
- Bath lifts
- Other equipment used to lift residents or service users
Care providers should maintain a clear asset register showing what equipment is present, where it is located and when each thorough examination is due.
What about MEWPs?
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms, including equipment such as:
- Scissor lifts
- Boom lifts
- Cherry pickers
- Spider lifts
- Other personnel access platforms can be subject to LOLER.
Because MEWPs lift people, the standard thorough examination interval is generally six months.
Does every piece of PPE fall under LOLER?
No.
This is an important distinction.
Not all PPE is lifting equipment and therefore not all PPE is subject to LOLER.
However, certain equipment associated with lifting or supporting people can fall within LOLER depending on its design, intended use and application.
The correct approach is to assess the equipment rather than assume that all PPE is either included or excluded.
What about lifting accessories that are rarely used?
Infrequent use does not automatically remove the requirement for a thorough examination.
LOLER requirements are based on the equipment and the circumstances in which it is used, rather than simply whether an item is used every day.
Where equipment is subject to deterioration or the applicable examination requirements, the duty holder needs to ensure that the appropriate examination is carried out.
What should you do if you are unsure whether something is LOLER?
Don't guess.
Create an inventory of your lifting equipment and discuss any uncertain items with a competent person.
For each item, consider:
- What does it do?
- Does it lift or lower?
- Does it lift people or loads?
- Is it a lifting accessory?
- What attachments are used?
- Where is it used?
- How frequently is it used?
- What conditions is it exposed to?
- When was it last thoroughly examined?
This will give you a much clearer picture of your LOLER obligations.
LOLER examinations from Cert Safe Inspection Services
Cert Safe Inspection Services provides LOLER thorough examinations for businesses across *High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and surrounding areas*.
We work with businesses across a wide range of sectors and can inspect individual items or larger portfolios of lifting equipment across multiple sites.
If you're unsure whether your equipment requires a LOLER examination.
*Contact CSIS for advice on the appropriate examination requirements.*