Keep workplace lifting equipment properly examined, documented and managed with professional LOLER support from DHG Services. We provide thorough examinations for suitable lifts and lifting equipment, helping dutyholders identify safety-critical defects and understand the action required.
A LOLER thorough examination is a formal assessment performed by a competent person. It is different from routine lift servicing and results in a written report covering the condition of the equipment, defects identified and the date of the next required examination.
Competent
Examinations completed using appropriate knowledge and experience
Documented
Clear written reports for your compliance records
Independent
Safety-focused assessment separate from routine maintenance
Nationwide Support
Discuss Your LOLER Requirements
Tell us about your equipment, where it is installed and when it was last thoroughly examined. Our team will review your requirements and arrange the appropriate next steps.
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Professional LOLER Inspection Services
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations place duties on employers, self-employed people and organisations that own, control or provide lifting equipment for use at work.
DHG Services provides LOLER inspections and thorough-examination support for relevant lift systems. Our service is intended to help dutyholders monitor the condition of their equipment, maintain suitable records and act upon defects that could affect continued safe use.
LOLER can apply to equipment used for lifting people or goods in workplaces and managed environments. Depending on the circumstances, this may include passenger lifts, platform lifts, goods lifts, service lifts, dumbwaiters, patient hoists and other lifting equipment.
Communal lifts in blocks of flats, equipment within care environments and lifts operated as part of a business can also fall within the regulations. Equipment used entirely within a private household will not ordinarily be covered by workplace health and safety legislation, although maintenance and safety requirements still remain important.
The precise responsibilities depend on the equipment, how it is used and who controls it. Our experienced team can discuss the available examination and lift-support services for your premises.
Understanding Your LOLER Responsibilities
A thorough examination helps establish whether lifting equipment remains safe for continued use. It should be treated as part of a wider system that includes suitable equipment selection, safe operation, maintenance, risk management and prompt action when defects are found.
Thorough
Safety-critical components assessed systematically
Recorded
Findings confirmed in a written examination report
Scheduled**
Examinations planned around the equipment and applicable interval
What Does LOLER Stand For?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. The regulations apply to lifting equipment used at work and cover matters including equipment suitability, positioning, lifting operations and thorough examination.
Where lifting equipment is exposed to conditions that may cause deterioration and create a dangerous situation, it must be examined at suitable intervals. These examinations must be performed by a competent person with enough practical and theoretical knowledge to identify defects and judge their importance.
The resulting report provides the dutyholder with formal information about the equipment’s condition, any safety-related defects and when the next thorough examination is required.
An essential service for
Employers, facilities managers, landlords, care providers and other organisations responsible for lifting equipment used at work or within managed communal environments.
Equipment That May Fall Under LOLER
LOLER applies to lifting equipment used at work. Whether a particular system falls within its scope depends on how the equipment is provided, controlled and operated.
Passenger Lifts
Passenger lifts within workplaces, public buildings and communal residential areas may require regular thorough examination. Equipment used to lift people will normally fall within the six-month examination category unless a written scheme specifies another interval.
Platform and Accessibility Lifts
Vertical platform lifts, inclined platform lifts and other systems used to transport people may be covered where they are provided for use at work or within a managed building.
Goods and Service Lifts
Goods lifts and dumbwaiters used commercially may require thorough examination. Goods-only lifting equipment will normally fall within the twelve-month category unless a written scheme provides a different frequency.
Through-Floor and Domestic-Style Lifts
A lift used entirely within one private household will not normally fall under LOLER. The position may differ where a domestic-style lift is operated by employed carers, installed within supported accommodation or used in a communal setting.
Hoists and Lifting Accessories
Patient hoists, workplace hoists and other equipment used to raise or lower loads can fall within the regulations. Lifting accessories such as slings and chains are normally examined at least every six months unless an examination scheme states otherwise.
Other Workplace Equipment
The regulations can also apply to cranes, vehicle lifts, lifting tables and various other systems used to raise or lower people, equipment or materials at work.
How Often Is a LOLER Inspection Required?
The correct term is a thorough examination, although it is frequently described as a LOLER inspection. The standard examination interval depends on what the equipment lifts and whether a competent person has prepared an examination scheme.
Unless an examination scheme states otherwise, the usual intervals are:
- Every six months for lifting equipment used to lift people
- Every six months for all lifting accessories
- Every twelve months for other lifting equipment
- At the intervals specified by a competent person’s examination scheme
A thorough examination may also be required before equipment is used for the first time, particularly where it has been assembled on site and the relevant conformity conditions do not provide an exemption.
Equipment requiring assembly or installation should be examined after assembly and before use at each location where this is necessary to confirm safe installation.
Further examination may be needed following exceptional circumstances that could jeopardise safety. Examples include damage, failure, a major modification, replacement of a safety-critical component or a prolonged period out of use.
The precise timing should be confirmed for the individual equipment and its operating conditions. Further information is available from the Health and Safety Executive’s LOLER guidance.
What Is a LOLER Thorough Examination?
A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed assessment of lifting equipment and its safety-critical parts. Its purpose is to detect defects, deterioration or weaknesses that are, or could become, dangerous.
The examination is completed by a competent person. The extent of the assessment depends on the equipment, its age, previous use, operating conditions and the professional judgement of the examiner.
Depending on the equipment, the examination may consider:
- Structural condition and supporting components
- Lift cars, platforms and associated enclosures
- Landing doors, gates and interlocks
- Guide systems and suspension components
- Braking and stopping arrangements
- Safety devices and emergency controls
- Limits, positioning and control functions
- Signs of wear, corrosion, damage or alteration
- Information from previous reports and maintenance records
- Safe working loads and relevant equipment markings
Visual examination and functional checks will commonly form part of the process. Measurements, internal examination, non-destructive testing or load testing may be required in certain circumstances where the competent person considers them necessary.
Routine overload testing is not automatically required at every thorough examination. Any testing should be based on risk, manufacturer information and the examiner’s professional judgement.
Who Can Conduct a Thorough Examination?
A thorough examination must be completed by a competent person. This means someone with sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the relevant lifting equipment to detect defects and assess their significance.
Competence involves more than being familiar with servicing a particular lift. The examiner must be able to make an objective judgement about whether the equipment can remain in use and what action is required.
The competent person should also have sufficient independence and impartiality. They do not necessarily need to work for a separate company, but they should not be placed in a position where they are assessing the quality of their own maintenance work.
Where the same organisation offers both examination and repair services, suitable separation should be maintained between the competent examination and any subsequent remedial work. The thorough-examination report should record findings clearly, regardless of whether repairs may later be offered.
LOLER Inspections and Routine Servicing
A LOLER thorough examination and routine lift servicing perform different functions. One does not automatically replace the other.
Thorough Examination
A thorough examination is a formal safety assessment. It focuses on safety-critical parts, deterioration, dangerous defects and whether the equipment is suitable for continued use. It produces a written report containing the information required under LOLER.
Routine Servicing
Servicing focuses on maintaining condition, performance and reliability. It may include lubrication, adjustment, cleaning, replacement of worn parts and other preventative maintenance.
Interim Inspections and User Checks
Some equipment may also need pre-use checks or inspections between thorough examinations. The nature and frequency of these checks should reflect the risks, equipment type, manufacturer’s instructions and operating environment.
A lift can operate smoothly while still containing a safety-related defect that requires attention. Equally, equipment can pass a thorough examination but still need routine maintenance to remain reliable. Dutyholders should therefore plan servicing and thorough examinations as separate but complementary activities.
DHG Services provides a wider range of lift servicing and support for customers responsible for lifting equipment.
The LOLER Examination Process
The precise examination will depend on the equipment, but a managed process helps ensure the right information is available and the findings are acted upon.
Equipment Review
We establish the lift type, location, use, previous examination date and available documentation.
Examination Planning
The required interval, equipment access and any site-specific arrangements are confirmed.
Thorough Examination
The competent person assesses the equipment and relevant safety-critical components.
Written Report
The dutyholder receives a report setting out the examination details, identified defects and next examination date.
Remedial Action
The dutyholder reviews the findings and arranges any work required within the stated timescale.
Future Scheduling
The next examination is planned according to the applicable interval or written examination scheme.
LOLER Reports and Record Keeping
Following a thorough examination, the competent person must prepare a written report containing the information required by the regulations.
The report should identify the equipment and include the date of examination, the date by which the next examination is required and details of defects that are or could become dangerous.
It may also distinguish between defects requiring immediate action and matters that must be corrected within a specified period. Additional observations may be included to help the dutyholder manage the equipment.
Reports should be retained for the period required by the regulations, protected from unauthorised alteration and made available when needed. Records may be stored electronically, provided a written copy can be produced when requested.
Dutyholders should keep LOLER reports alongside relevant maintenance records, conformity documentation, risk assessments and information concerning repairs or modifications. A clear asset register can help organisations monitor examination dates across multiple lifts or sites.
What Happens When a Dangerous Defect Is Found?
Where a defect presents an existing or potential danger, the competent person must notify the dutyholder and record it within the written report.
A defect involving an immediate or serious risk should be communicated without delay. The equipment should not continue to be used until the risk has been effectively managed and the necessary remedial action completed.
The competent person may also be required to send a copy of a report concerning a serious defect to the relevant enforcing authority. This responsibility is separate from the dutyholder’s obligation to prevent unsafe equipment from remaining in operation.
Not every defect requires immediate withdrawal. Some reports may specify a period within which work must be completed. The dutyholder must arrange the repair within that timescale or stop using the equipment once the stated deadline is reached.
Repairs should be documented, and further examination may be appropriate where safety-critical parts have been replaced or the work could affect the integrity of the equipment.
WHY CHOOSE DHG
Why Choose DHG Services for LOLER Support?
DHG Services helps customers manage the safety, servicing and examination requirements associated with lifts and lifting equipment.
Appropriate Technical Knowledge
Equipment is reviewed by people with relevant lift and lifting-system experience.
Clear Written Reports
Findings are documented so dutyholders can understand the condition of their equipment.
Safety-Focused Assessments
The examination considers defects that may affect safe continued operation.
Separate Compliance Functions
Thorough examination is treated separately from routine servicing and maintenance.
Support for Different Lift Types
We can discuss requirements for platform lifts, goods lifts, dumbwaiters and other suitable systems.
Multi-Site Planning
Inspection requirements can be discussed for organisations responsible for several premises or assets.
Remedial Support
Where defects require repair, the next steps and available lift-support services can be explained.
Nationwide Availability
LOLER and specialist lift support can be arranged for suitable projects across the UK.
LOLER and PUWER Explained
LOLER and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, commonly known as PUWER, often apply alongside one another.
LOLER focuses specifically on lifting equipment and lifting operations. It includes requirements concerning equipment strength, stability, positioning, planning, supervision and thorough examination.
PUWER applies more broadly to work equipment. It requires equipment to be suitable, maintained in an efficient state and used by people who have received appropriate information, instruction and training.
A current LOLER report does not remove the need to maintain the equipment. Likewise, evidence of routine maintenance does not replace the formal thorough examination required by LOLER.
Dutyholders should also consider wider workplace responsibilities, including risk assessment, safe operating procedures, staff training, access controls and emergency arrangements.
Preparing for a LOLER Inspection
Providing accurate equipment information can help the examination proceed efficiently. Before the visit, the dutyholder should identify the equipment, locate previous reports and confirm any known faults or recent changes.
Useful information may include:
- The manufacturer, model and serial number
- The equipment’s location and purpose
- Its safe working load
- The date of the previous thorough examination
- Previous examination and defect reports
- Maintenance and repair records
- Details of modifications or replaced components
- Known faults or unusual operation
- Relevant conformity documentation
- The existing examination scheme, where one applies
Safe access to the equipment and its relevant components should be arranged. Site representatives should also explain any operational restrictions, security procedures or hazards that could affect the examination.
LOLER Support for Managed Buildings
LOLER responsibilities can arise across many different organisations and property types.
Care homes and supported-living providers may be responsible for passenger lifts, platform lifts, through-floor systems and hoists used by residents or staff. Managing agents and housing providers may control communal lifts within apartment buildings.
Hotels, restaurants and commercial kitchens may use goods lifts or dumbwaiters to transport supplies between floors. Offices, schools, public buildings and retail premises may also contain passenger, accessibility or service lifts.
Responsibility should be allocated clearly. The dutyholder needs to know which equipment is covered, when examinations are due, where reports are stored and who will act when a defect is identified.
A scheduled inspection programme can help organisations manage several assets without relying on individual reminders or incomplete paper records.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About LOLER Inspections
These answers cover common questions about examination intervals, competent persons, reports and the difference between LOLER and routine servicing.
What does LOLER stand for in health and safety?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. The regulations apply to lifting equipment used at work and place responsibilities on employers, self-employed people and organisations that own or control such equipment. They cover the suitability and positioning of equipment, safe planning of lifting operations and thorough examination by a competent person. The regulations can apply to equipment lifting people or goods, including passenger lifts, platform lifts, goods lifts and workplace hoists. Whether a particular lift is covered depends on where it is installed, how it is used and who controls it. A purely private household lift will not normally fall within workplace health and safety law.
How often is a LOLER inspection legally required?
Unless a competent person’s examination scheme specifies a different interval, lifting equipment used to carry people should normally be thoroughly examined every six months. All lifting accessories should also normally be examined every six months. Other lifting equipment, including goods-only systems, is generally examined every twelve months. Further examinations may be required after installation, major alteration, damage, failure or another exceptional event that could affect safety. The correct interval should be established for the particular equipment and its operating conditions. Dutyholders should not assume that an annual examination is suitable for every asset, especially where equipment transports people or is exposed to conditions that may accelerate deterioration.
Is a LOLER inspection the same as lift servicing?
No. Routine servicing and a LOLER thorough examination have different purposes. Servicing maintains the lift’s operation and reliability through activities such as cleaning, adjustment, lubrication and replacement of worn components. A thorough examination is a formal safety assessment completed by a competent person. It considers safety-critical components, identifies dangerous or potentially dangerous defects and results in a written report. The examiner should also possess sufficient independence and impartiality to assess the equipment objectively. Regular servicing does not remove the duty to arrange thorough examinations, and a thorough examination does not replace preventative maintenance. Most dutyholders therefore need separate arrangements for maintenance, interim checks and statutory examination.
Who is responsible for arranging the thorough examination?
Responsibility normally rests with the dutyholder who owns, provides or controls lifting equipment used at work. Depending on the premises, this could be an employer, business owner, landlord, facilities manager, care provider, housing association or managing agent. The dutyholder must ensure examinations are completed by a competent person at the required intervals, reports are retained and defects are addressed appropriately. Contracting maintenance or facilities management to another company does not automatically remove the dutyholder’s responsibilities. Contracts should make it clear who schedules examinations, receives reports and authorises remedial work. Where responsibilities are uncertain, ownership, control and actual use of the equipment should be reviewed before the next examination becomes due.
What information appears in a LOLER report?
A thorough-examination report identifies the equipment and records information required under LOLER. This includes the date of examination, the date by which the next examination is required and details of any defect that is or could become dangerous. It should explain whether a defect requires immediate action or must be corrected within a specified period. The report also records information about the competent person and the extent of the examination. Reports should be retained securely and protected against unauthorised alteration. Dutyholders must be able to produce a written copy when required. The report should be reviewed promptly rather than simply filed, as responsibility for arranging repairs or withdrawing unsafe equipment remains with the dutyholder.
Does LOLER apply to stairlifts and home lifts?
A lift or stairlift used solely within a private household will not normally be subject to LOLER because the regulations apply to lifting equipment used at work. However, the position can change when equipment is provided within a care home, supported-living property, workplace or communal residential building. It may also require closer assessment when paid carers or employees operate or depend upon the equipment as part of their work. Even where LOLER does not apply, the lift should still be serviced, maintained and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Property owners should not treat exemption from workplace regulations as meaning no safety responsibilities exist. The installation environment and actual pattern of use should be reviewed individually.
Arrange a LOLER Inspection
Keep your lifting equipment examination programme properly scheduled and documented. DHG Services provides professional LOLER support, written reporting and access to continued lift servicing and remedial assistance.
