Understanding LOLER - A Foolproof Guide to Compliance
If you are a duty holder, it’s important for you to know your responsibilities. One of these key responsibilities is ensuring compliance, to the best of your abilities, with the LOLER Regulations. A key part of this is to ensure you have regular LOLER inspections. In this article, we will explain the LOLER Regulations and what they mean for you.
What is LOLER?
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, commonly known as LOLER, imposes statutory responsibilities on individuals and companies that own, operate, or control lifting equipment and lifting accessories. This applies to all businesses and organisations where employees use lifting equipment, regardless of ownership.
How does LOLER relate to me?
According to the HSE’s Guide to Lifting Equipment at Work, if you are an “employer or self-employed person providing lifting equipment for use at work”, or if “you have control of the use of lifting equipment”, then the LOLER Regulations will apply to you.
If you fall under any of these categories, you are classed as a 'duty holder' in the eyes of the HSE. It is, therefore, your responsibility to ensure that all lifting equipment in your possession meets the requirements of LOLER.
What are some examples of equipment that falls under the LOLER Regulations?
Here are some examples of equipment that you might have in your performance space which may need a LOLER inspection. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list:
- Manual Winches
- Electrics Winches
- Drill Drive Winches
- Chain Hoists
- Rope Sets
- Counterweight Sets
- Pantographs
- Other raise, lower & lifting accessories
How can I ensure compliance with LOLER Regulations?
LOLER mandates, among other things, that all Lifting Equipment and Lifting Accessories must be:
- Suitable for their intended use
- Appropriate for the specific task
- Clearly marked
- Subject to statutory 'Thorough Examinations'
‘Thorough Examinations’ may be required after initial installation, as well as periodically throughout the life of the equipment and after any exceptional circumstance which may affect the safety of the equipment.
Records of these Thorough Examinations must be maintained, and any defects recorded must be remedied within acceptable time limits. In certain cases, defective equipment must not be used until the issue has been resolved.
How often do I need to have LOLER inspections done?
Unlike many regulations, LOLER explicitly specifies maximum timescales for the periodic ‘Thorough Examinations’, and these must be carried out by a ‘suitably competent person’. This means the duty holder is bound by law to ensure these timescales are met, or the equipment must not be used. For lifting equipment, the maximum period between Thorough Examinations is 12 months. For lifting accessories, this period is reduced to 6 months.
In addition to ensuring Thorough Examinations are carried out within these timescales, you must also ensure that all lifting operations are appropriately planned, properly supervised, and executed safely.
What happens if I don’t have my LOLER inspections done?
Without a valid and ‘in-date’ Thorough Examination, the equipment cannot legally be used, resulting in a loss of capability for your venue, lost revenue, lost teaching opportunities, etc. Of course, the risk of a safety-related incident can increase, and without an ‘in-date’
Failure to comply with LOLER can result in serious consequences: injury to persons, damage to property, enforcement action, fines, prosecution, and more.
How can I arrange a Thorough Examination for my equipment?
Contact us today by calling 03330 142 102 or email hello@stage-electrics.co.uk. Our inspectors will examine your mechanical installations, equipment, and accessories, recording the equipment’s condition in a Report of Thorough Examination to help you comply with your legal obligations.
How do I find LOLER inspections near me?
Our team is based all over the UK. Book an inspection today.