LOLER Explained: Ensuring Safe Lifting Operations in the Workplace

What is LOLER?

LOLER is a set of workplace safety regulations in the UK designed to prevent injuries caused by lifting equipment. The acronym LOLER stands for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. The law ensures that all lifting equipment is strong, stable, and suitable for its intended use, and that all lifting operations are properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent individuals.

Importance

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recognizes the significant risks associated with lifting operations. It became essential to develop a more robust and unified regulatory framework to improve occupational health and safety and protect workers from severe injuries and potential fatalities.

Before LOLER, lifting activities were governed by fragmented, industry-specific rules, such as the Construction Regulations of 1981. These left gaps in sectors like energy and utilities, logistics, and commercial cleaning. Aside from regulating all operations that require lifting equipment, LOLER strengthened protections and legal requirements. Its impact is clear: a 31% reduction in reported lifting incidents according to an HSE study.

What Equipment is LOLER Relevant to?

Under LOLER, lifting equipment is defined as “work equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing, or supporting the load.” Here are some examples:

• Cranes (overhead, tower, gantry)

• Hoists and winches (electric and hydraulic)

• Forklift trucks (including telehandlers, pallet tines, and loader buckets)

• Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)

• Passenger and goods lifts

• Care home and mobility equipment

• Suspension systems (e.g., dumbwaiters, cleaning cradles)

• Rope and pulley systems

• Lifting accessories (e.g., slings, shackles, hoods, chains, eyebolts)

Escalators, roller shutter doors, and some pallet trucks are generally not covered by LOLER since they don’t principally lift or lower. However, these may fall under other regulations, like the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998.

What is a LOLER Inspection?

HSE inspections are a core part of LOLER enforcement, ensuring workplace safety and legal compliance across industries that use lifting equipment. While there is no fixed public schedule, competent HSE personnel conduct spot checks or investigations triggered by risk assessments, complaints, or routine enforcement visits.

During an inspection HSE officers usually examine lifting equipment onsite, review maintenance and inspection records, and interview responsible personnel to verify compliance.

LOLER Compliance and Responsibilities

Under the law, the operational responsibilities for ensuring the thorough LOLER assessments fall upon employers and designated dutyholders. These are their main obligations and how they can effectively fulfill them:

Ensure equipment suitability and safety.

Unsuitable or faulty equipment increases the risk of failure, accidents, or serious injury to workers and bystanders. HSE requires lifting equipment to be:

• Appropriate for intended use

• Marked with safe working loads (SWL)

• Marked UKCA or CE for newer items

• Regularly maintained and thoroughly examined

Inspections intervals include:

• Lifting accessories and equipment that carry people - every 6 months

• Other lifting equipment - annually

• New equipment - before first use, especially without a valid certificate

• After significant repairs or parts replacement

• After involvement in an accident

Using LOLER checklists for pre-checks and combining inspections with routine maintenance helps identify defects early and remove or tag out unsafe equipment and accessories.

Coordinate and manage lifting operations.

Poor planning can lead to unstable loads, collisions, dropped materials, and unsafe work zones. Whether simple or complex, all lifting operations must be systematically organized by competent personnel and completed under supervision. Here are some best practices:

• Plan operations in advance and create standardized lifting plans and method statements.

• Use a permit-to-work system for high-risk or complex lifts.

• Involve the safety officer during the planning stage.

Choose, instruct, and supervise competent personnel.

Competence minimizes human error, improves decision-making during lifts, and ensures proper use of equipment. It is up to the employers to hire, train, and authorize knowledgeable and skilled individuals to carry out lifting operations, including slinging, signaling, and operating the machinery.

• Provide targeted LOLER and safety training, assessing capability before work starts.

• Maintain up-to-date training records for lifting-related roles.

• Assign supervisors to support less experienced workers.

Regularly assess risks and uphold safety precautions.

On-site checks detect unsafe practices, changing conditions, or deteriorating equipment. Regularly conducting inspections of lifting activities, evaluating associated risks, and implementing controls prevents incidents and mitigates the consequences, in case an accident occurs.

• Use LOLER-specific checklists for inspections and risk assessments.

• Monitor weather and environmental conditions for outdoor lifts.

• Immediately address any observed hazards or non-conformities.

Document tasks and keep proper records.

HSE requires companies to keep thorough examination reports and related documents for at least two years. Documentation should include details like:

• Inspection dates

• Defects found

• Corrective actions taken

• Training activities

• Certifications of competent personnel

Digital platforms can help centralize and automate recordkeeping, so documents remain accessible for internal audits and HSE spot checks.

Navigating Compliance Pitfalls

Businesses in the UK understand that strictly following the regulations is vital to prevent costly accidents and downtimes. However, incomplete or rushed inspections still occur, implying compliance gaps remain. Here are the possible causes and how they can be overcome:

• Complex and technical requirements - Finding a competent person with specialized LOLER knowledge can be difficult for companies without in-house expertise. The technical nature of inspections and equipment-specific risks add to this challenge. Engaging external inspectors and investing in training and competency can help overcome this issue.

• Resource and cost constraints - Regular inspections, maintenance, and recordkeeping can introduce financial and operational strain. Downtime during inspections and repairs may also deter compliance. In addition to leveraging government support, including compliance budgeting during the planning stage of the lifting operation, can help minimize the burden.

• Coordination across teams and sites - Managing lifting operations across multiple teams or locations can create communication gaps and inconsistent practices. Centralized management systems and robust communication channels help distribute strategic plans efficiently and resolve issues in real time.