The abundance of rules and regulations that apply to lifts and escalators can confuse even those with decades of experience in the industry. One of the most frequently misunderstood of these regulations is LOLER, which leaves many business owners confused.
To help you get your head around LOLER and ensure your business is operating within the bounds of UK law, we’ve put together this handy guide. So read on to find out everything you need to know about LOLERs.
What is a LOLER?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) are in place to ensure that all lifting equipment is used in a safe manner. Any business or organisation whose employees operate lifting equipment on the job whether it be a passenger lift, a car lift, a small dumbwaiter or a stairlift, are required to comply to these regulations, which come under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
In practice, LOLER regulations require all lifting equipment to have regular inspections by a ‘competent person’ to ensure that it is fit for purpose. It is the responsibility of the business who own or rent the equipment to make sure these examinations take place. The lift must then be appropriately marked and records of each examination must be kept, with any defects being reported to the maintenance provider
A LOLER inspection, known officially as a ‘thorough examination’, is not the same as routine maintenance such your lifts servicing, or repairs to replace parts or making minor adjustments. Think of it like your cars MOT. To drive your car legally, it must have a valid, in-date MOT. In the same way, your lift must have an in-date LOLER certificate, alongside its annual maintenance.
Why was LOLER introduced?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations were passed in 1998 (which is why you may see them referred to as ‘LOLER 1998’). They replaced the Construction and Use (Lifting) regulations of 1961, which required each piece of lifting equipment to undergo an overload test every four years.
These old regulations were replaced because certain types of lifting equipment are prone to damage during conventional overload tests. LOLER inspections, which involve a thorough examination each year, are much less intensive and therefore don’t affect the lifespan of this lifting equipment. As they are able to be performed more regularly, they also better ensure the performance of lifting equipment.
How is LOLER enforced?
Health and safety inspectors enforce LOLER. As they have the authority to request access to your thorough examination and lifting operation reports at any time, it is crucial that you maintain a thorough record of all of this information. Furthermore, if one of your employees suffers an accident while using a piece of lifting equipment, you will be prosecuted if the regulations weren’t properly followed.
It is therefore crucial that whenever lifting equipment is used on your business’s premises, the HSE’s LOLER Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (ACOP) is followed to a tee. This will not only ensure the safety of your employees, but also provide legal cover in the event of a lift equipment-related accident. Moreover, LOLER inspections will catch any defects with your equipment before they have a chance to develop and therefore help prolong its lifespan.
Where does LOLER apply?
LOLER applies every time a lift is used on your business premises, whether you are the owner of that equipment or not. To comply with LOLER, this equipment must have passed a thorough examination by a competent person in the last 12 months, and it must be marked with its Safe Working Load (SWL), as well as any characteristic that might affect its safe use.
How often do you need a LOLER inspection?
LOLER regulation requires lifts to be thoroughly examined by a competent person:
- Before they are first used
- Immediately after the repair or replacement of an essential component,
- Whenever it is removed and re-fitted to the original chassis, or
- Within 12 months of its last examination.
Lifting accessories — any equipment used to attach a load to lifting machinery, such as slings and chains — need to be undergo a thorough examination every six months.
What does a LOLER ‘thorough examination’ involve?
Under LOLER, a thorough examination is defined as a detailed inspection of a piece of lifting equipment performed by a competent person. The thorough examination must be recorded in accordance with LOLER Schedule 1 and include all of the information required by the LOLER ACOP.
Who can carry out a LOLER inspection?
A LOLER inspection must be carried out by a ‘competent person’, someone who “has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment”. This person must also be impartial so they can be sufficiently objective in their review of the equipment, so it is recommended you hire an external contractor to perform your LOLER inspections. This will ensure there is no doubting the validity of your LOLER inspections should there be an accident on your site.
If you have a service contract with Nordic Lifts, you will be able to take advantage of an add on LOLER service, which provides a LOLER examination from of our our impartial competent engineers.
Alternatively, Nordic Lifts carry out stand alone LOLER inspections on lifts, stairlifts and hoists across the country. Click here to find out more
Lift LOLERS and Covid-19
The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has provided information for lift owners or persons responsible for lifts which clarifies the position on LOLER Thorough Examinations during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
In effect, the rules remain the same. There is no grace period and LOLER Thorough Examinations must be conducted on or before the expiry date of the last report. Currently there are no plans for any exemptions with regard to LOLERs.
If you’ve closed your business due to the Covid-19 government advice and your lift is due it’s LOLER during the period of closure, please contact us. We’ll organise for your lift to have its LOLER inspection at an agreed time. Our LOLER inspections are booked in advance so you will know when our engineer is due and can arrange to be on site to let them in. We have full PPE and can organise contactless access. Our primary concern is to ensure that when your business re-opens, your lift will be able to resume work too, to ensure minimal disruption to your business.
