Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

What it covers

LOLER applies to equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, and to the lifting operations themselves. That includes overhead and gantry cranes, hoists, lifts, vehicle tail-lifts and lifting accessories such as slings, shackles and eyebolts.

Who it applies to

Employers, the self-employed and anyone who has control of lifting equipment used at work, including people who provide equipment for others to use.

Key duties

• Lifting equipment must be strong and stable enough for its use, and marked with its safe working load.
• Every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely.
• Equipment must be thoroughly examined by a competent person before first use (unless exempt) and after installation where safety depends on the installation conditions.
• In-service thorough examination at least every 6 months for lifting accessories and for equipment used to lift people, and at least every 12 months for other lifting equipment — or in accordance with a written examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.
• A further thorough examination is needed after exceptional circumstances likely to affect safety, such as damage or a long period out of use.
• The competent person must produce a written report of each thorough examination. Defects that pose an existing or imminent risk must be reported to the employer straight away, and a copy of that report sent to the relevant enforcing authority.
• The equipment must not be used until a dangerous defect has been put right, and records of examinations must be kept and available.

How Censiary helps

• An asset register for cranes, hoists and lifting accessories, each with a tag identifier.
• Inspection templates aligned to LOLER thorough examination and your site's own benchmark standard.
• Due dates per asset, whether set by fixed intervals or an examination scheme.
• Defects raised in the field with photos and visible immediately to supervisors.
• Reports and registers generated from the record, ready for an auditor or insurer.