Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) are a set of guidelines put in place by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK to ensure the safety and proper maintenance of lifting equipment. These regulations apply to all lifting operations involving the movement of people or goods in the workplace, including cranes, forklifts, and other types of lifting equipment.

Regulation Requirements

LOLER regulations require that all lifting equipment is:

• Fit for purpose
• Suitable for the task
• Appropriately marked
• Regularly inspected and maintained
• Maintained in a safe condition

Employers are responsible for ensuring that all personnel are competent to operate the equipment, and that all equipment is thoroughly examined at regular intervals. The periodic inspections should be carried out by a competent person, and records of these inspections must be kept available for a specified period, which can vary depending on the type of equipment.

Thorough Examinations

Regulation 9 of LOLER outlines specific requirements for the formal inspection of lifting equipment. The maximum fixed periods for thorough examinations are:

• Equipment used for lifting persons: 6 months
• Lifting accessories: 6 months
• Other lifting appliances: 12 months or in accordance with a written scheme of examination

Any inspection record must be made in accordance with the requirements of schedule 1 of LOLER.

Competent Person

A competent person is responsible for carrying out the lifting equipment inspections. Although there is no specific definition of a competent person within the legislation, guidance is given in the HSE LOLER Approved Code of Practice and guidance. In practice, an insurance company may provide a competent person or request a third-party independent inspector.

Employer and Worker Obligations

LOLER 1998 put in place four key protocols that all employers and workers must abide by:

1. All equipment must be safe and suitable for purpose.
2. All personnel must be suitably trained.
3. All equipment must be maintained in a safe condition.
4. All personnel using lifting equipment should be trained and competent.

Prosecutions

There have been several prosecutions arising from LOLER regulations. For example, in 2011, a Liverpool nursing home was fined £18,000 after an 81-year-old woman fell to the ground whilst being lifted out of bed due to the sling equipment not being thoroughly inspected.

Inspection Frequency

The LOLER inspection frequency for different types of lifting equipment is as follows:

• Lifting equipment used for lifting/lowering persons: 6 months
• Lifting accessories: 6 months
• Garage vehicle lifts: 6 months
• Cranes: 12 months
• Vehicle-mounted lifts: 12 months
• Forklift trucks: 12 months or 6 months depending on risk assessment

Record Keeping

Operators of lifting equipment are legally required to ensure that reports of thorough examinations are kept available for whichever is longer, 6 months or 12 months. Records must be kept for all equipment. All equipment manufactured should be given a “birth certificate” which proves that when first made, it complied with any requirement.

In conclusion, LOLER regulations are essential for ensuring the safety and maintenance of lifting equipment in all workplaces. Employers and workers must abide by these regulations to prevent accidents and injuries.