If carried out incorrectly, lifting operations can be incredibly dangerous tasks, causing potentially fatal accidents on site.
Whether you’re operating a crane on a construction site or a forklift in a warehouse, following safety precautions is crucial to guaranteeing a lift runs smoothly.
Understanding and implementing LOLER regulations on your site is crucial to ensuring health and safety standards are followed.
Here, we’ve put together a foolproof guide to LOLER regulations. Our comprehensive manual includes how often testing should be done, what a LOLER inspection consists of, and LOLER maintenance requirements.
At Emerson Cranes, we’ve been lifting the standards for over 25 years. Our extensive experience as a trusted crane hire service means we promise to make sure your lift is conducted safely. If you’d like to find out more about our reliable crane hire services, please do get in touch. Call us on 020 8059 2546 and speak to one of our knowledgeable team members today.
What Does LOLER Stand For?
LOLER is an acronym for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. LOLER regulations cover the operation and maintenance of lifting equipment. Responsibility is placed on both the business in ownership of the equipment and the employee operating it daily.
What is a LOLER Inspection?
A LOLER inspection is an examination of the lifting equipment used on site, conducted by a competent person. LOLER regulations state that lifting equipment should be regularly inspected to ensure that they are:
- Strong enough for use
- Marked to indicate safe working loads
- Used safely – e.g. work is planned, organised, and performed by competent people
- Positioned to minimise risk
- Installed correctly
What Equipment is LOLER Relevant To?
According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), here, lifting equipment is any work equipment for lifting and lowering loads. This includes any accessories used in doing so, such as attachments to support, fix or anchor equipment.
If you are responsible for a lift, you are legally required to ensure they’re maintained correctly. LOLER applies to the use of any lifting equipment used at work.
Equipment that requires regular inspection according to LOLER regulations includes:
- Passenger lifts
- Goods lifts
- Dumb waiters
- Escalators
- Mobility lifting aids
- Cherry pickers
- Scissor lifts
- Lifting accessories – (e.g. chains, hooks and eye bolts)
Comprehensive guidelines on the equipment covered by LOLER can be found on the official HSE website here.
Equipment Not Covered By LOLER
LOLER regulations cover a wide scope of lifting equipment. However, there are some notable pieces of equipment that are not covered by LOLER which may come as a surprise. These include:
- Pallet trucks
- Roller Shutters
- Fall Arrest Ropes
- Tipper Trucks
How Often Should LOLER Testing Be Done?
The maintenance of lifting equipment is conducted to ensure it remains safe for use. How often LOLER examinations should be carried out will depend on the type of machinery you’re in charge of, the industry you operate in and how often it’s used.
LOLER regulations state that a competent person should conduct inspections every:
- 6 months for equipment used to lift people
- 6 months for all lifting accessories
- 12 months for all over lifting equipment
LOLER maintenance requirements state that, during an inspection, a competent person will conduct a visual check and examine the machine’s basic functions. They will also look for any signs of wear and tear and load test it to ensure it conforms to industry standards. Depending on the type of equipment being assessed, an examination will usually take between 1-3 hours.
LOLER Employee Responsibilities
While your employees don’t have specific duties under LOLER, they do have general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Any employee using lifting equipment covered by LOLER regulations should receive adequate training. They should also be provided with and given the time to read through a list of instructions on how to use the equipment correctly.
Why is Following LOLER Regulations So Important?
LOLER regulations are extremely important to lower the risk of accidents on site. The consequences of not following LOLER can be severe, resulting in potentially fatal injuries. Ensuring your business complies with regulations is crucial to ensure you’re doing all you can to protect your staff and the general public.
Multiple legal consequences come with choosing to not comply with LOLER regulations. These include heavy fines and even criminal prosecution in extreme circumstances.
Ensuring equipment is being used efficiently on your site will minimise risk and prevent serious accidents from occurring.
If you’d like to find out more about the importance of following LOLER regulations or would like to enquire about any of our crane hire services, please do get in touch. Call us on 020 8059 2546 and speak to one of our expert, friendly team members today.
