Lifts and Lifting Equipment

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) came into force in December 1998. They apply in all work premises and work situations subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The Regulations are aimed at equipment such as cranes, lifts and hoists, and components including chains, ropes, slings, hooks, shackles and eyebolts. Examples of equipment covered include a passenger lift, a dumb waiter, a vehicle inspection hoist and a scissors lift.

Requirements

Equipment must have adequate strength for the proposed use, with an appropriate factor of safety against failure. Equipment must also have adequate stability for its proposed use. Where appropriate, sufficient resistance to overturning must be provided to be put in place and operating effectively before the equipment is used.

Lifting Equipment for lifting persons

Work equipment used for raising/lowering people should be specifically designed for the purpose. Such equipment may include lift trucks, telescopic handlers and cranes. Persons being carried (e.g. in a lift car) should be protected from being injured by something outside of it (i.e. fully enclosed when in use). Persons working from a carrier need to be protected by suitable edge protection and a slip resistant floor. Lift cars are required to have devices to prevent free-fall, independent of the means of suspension of the car. In the event of malfunction, persons being lifted must not be exposed to danger and a reliable means of rescue must be available (incorporating means to summon assistance, emergency means of lowering the carrier or self-rescue equipment).

Marking of lifting equipment

Lifting machinery and accessories are required to be marked with their safe working load (SWL). Where it is not practicable to mark the equipment itself, a coding system should be used to provide the user with the SWL (e.g. colour coding, label). This also applies where the SWL is dependent upon varying configurations (e.g. forklift truck fitted with attachments).

Where a significant hazard arises from the use of the machinery it should be provided with appropriate equipment or devices such as rated capacity indicators/ limiters.

Any carrier of persons should display the maximum number of persons to be carried in addition to the SWL.

Thorough examination and inspection

LOLER requirements are:-

1. Initial Thorough examination

This covers the initial thorough examination. In the case of new equipment, the 'thorough examination' is considered to have been carried out by the manufacturer or supplier and confirmed in the Declaration of Conformity.

2. Regular Thorough examination

The lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at intervals specified in the Regulations (see below) or shorter intervals if the competent person considers this appropriate, or in accordance with the intervals specified in the examination scheme for the equipment. (the specified period and examination scheme approaches respectively).

The specified periods are:-

(i) lifting equipment for lifting persons, or an accessory for lifting, at least every six months

(ii) other lifting equipment, at least every twelve months

The examination scheme may be drawn up by any competent person. The scheme should identify and specify which parts should be thoroughly examined, the intervals between examinations and, where appropriate, those parts that need to be tested.

Examples of equipment that require a thorough examination include forklift trucks, lifts, cranes and vehicle inspection hoists.

3. Any changes

A thorough examination is required after substantial or significant modification or repair.

Lifting equipment must not leave a business or (if obtained from the undertaking of another person) be used in a business unless it is accompanied by physical evidence (e.g. a paper copy of the last examination report) that the last thorough examination required has been carried out.

For more information on the detailed requirements for lifting equipment free leaflets can be downloaded from HSE Books from the links below.