When Should Lifting Accessories Be Inspected?

When Should Lifting Accessories Be Inspected?

When should lifting accessories be inspected? Lifting accessories should be checked by the user before use and thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months, unless they are covered by a suitable examination scheme specifying different intervals.

Additional examination may be required following damage, overloading, prolonged storage, modification or another exceptional circumstance that could affect safety.

The six-month thorough examination does not replace pre-use checks. A sling, shackle, hook or lifting beam can be damaged during a single operation and may become unsafe long before its next statutory examination is due.

Businesses therefore need a system that combines:

• Pre-use checks

• Appropriate interim inspections where required

• Six-monthly thorough examination or an examination scheme

• Correct storage and maintenance

• Clear identification and traceability

• Immediate quarantine of defective accessories

When should lifting accessories be inspected under LOLER?

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, known as LOLER, all lifting accessories must normally be thoroughly examined at least every six months.

A different interval may apply where examinations are conducted in accordance with a suitable examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.

The principal examination points are:

CircumstanceAction normally requiredBefore each useUser pre-use checkWhile in serviceThorough examination every six months or at the intervals in an examination schemeFollowing damage or overloadingRemove from use and obtain competent assessmentFollowing an exceptional circumstance liable to jeopardise safetyAdditional thorough examinationAfter significant modification or safety-critical repairCompetent assessment and examination where requiredAfter prolonged storage or inactivityAssess condition before return to use and arrange examination where necessaryWhen identification or safe working load cannot be confirmedQuarantine until suitability and identity are established

These activities are not interchangeable. A pre-use check is not a thorough examination, and a current thorough examination report does not remove the need to check an accessory immediately before use.

The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment confirms the six-month interval for all lifting accessories.

Excel Inspection Solutions carries out independent lifting-equipment inspections for lifting accessories and lifting machines across the South East and wider UK.

What is a lifting accessory?

A lifting accessory is equipment used to attach a load to lifting machinery or support a load during a lifting operation.

Common examples include:

• Chain slings

• Wire-rope slings

• Webbing slings

• Round slings

• Shackles

• Lifting hooks

• Eyebolts

• Swivel hoist rings

• Plate clamps

• Beam clamps

• Lifting beams

• Spreader beams

• Magnetic lifting devices

• Vacuum lifting devices

• Lifting grabs

• C-hooks

• Drum lifters

• Lifting frames

• Detachable lifting attachments

An accessory may be simple in appearance, but its failure can result in the complete loss of the load.

Accessories must be suitable for the load, compatible with the lifting machine and selected for the conditions in which they will be used. A current examination report does not prove that an accessory is suitable for every lifting operation.

Do lifting accessories need to be examined every six months?

Yes, unless a suitable examination scheme specifies another interval.

The standard six-month interval applies to lifting accessories whether they are used to lift:

• Materials

• Machinery

• Vehicles

• Containers

• Construction products

• People

• Other loads

This differs from the general interval for lifting machines. Lifting equipment that does not lift people is normally thoroughly examined every 12 months, while lifting accessories are normally examined every six months.

This distinction can be missed when businesses place cranes, hoists and all their accessories on the same annual schedule.

A crane may have a 12-month thorough examination date while its detachable slings, shackles and lifting beams require examination every six months. Each item or identifiable set must be included within an appropriate compliance system.

Is six months the maximum period?

The six-month interval is the standard maximum interval where no examination scheme applies.

It should not be treated as a recommended booking date. Waiting until the final day creates a risk that the accessories will become overdue if the examination is postponed, items cannot be located or access is unavailable.

A sensible system should:

• Record the exact next examination date

• Arrange attendance before the expiry date

• Identify accessories due for examination

• Gather them in a suitable inspection area

• Account for accessories kept in vehicles or remote locations

• Prevent missed items from returning to use

• Update the register promptly after examination

Two examinations during the same calendar year do not necessarily satisfy the six-month requirement. The exact dates matter.

Can lifting accessories be examined under an examination scheme?

Yes.

A competent person can prepare an examination scheme based on the accessory, its use, deterioration mechanisms and operating conditions.

A suitable scheme may specify:

• The accessories covered

• The components or features to be examined

• Examination methods

• Examination intervals

• Measurements or testing required

• Rejection criteria

• Relevant maintenance or inspection arrangements

• Information needed to review the scheme

The scheme may require examinations more frequently than every six months where accessories experience:

• Intensive use

• High numbers of lifting cycles

• Shock loading

• Severe abrasion

• High temperatures

• Corrosive substances

• Marine conditions

• Contamination

• Repeated outdoor exposure

• Other accelerated deterioration

A longer interval should not be adopted merely because an accessory is rarely used. Any variation must be supported by a suitable scheme prepared by someone with the necessary competence.

Should lifting accessories be checked before every use?

Yes.

The user should complete an appropriate pre-use check before the accessory is used. This is normally a visual and tactile check intended to identify obvious damage, deterioration, incorrect assembly or loss of identification.

The check should also confirm that the accessory is suitable for the intended lift.

Depending on the accessory, the user may need to look for:

• Cuts, tears or abrasion

• Broken stitching

• Heat or chemical damage

• Cracked or damaged fittings

• Distorted chain links

• Bent hooks

• Damaged safety catches

• Excessive wear

• Corrosion

• Broken wires

• Kinks or crushing

• Damaged ferrules

• Distorted shackles

• Incorrect pins

• Damaged threads

• Cracks or deformation

• Missing identification

• An illegible safe working load

• Evidence of unauthorised repair

• Contamination that prevents proper examination

The user should also check that:

• The accessory has adequate capacity

• The configuration is permitted

• Sling angles have been considered

• Components are compatible

• The load will be stable

• Contact points will not cut or damage the accessory

• The accessory is not twisted, knotted or incorrectly shortened

• Environmental conditions are acceptable

• The lifting points are suitable

• The accessory’s identification can be matched to its records

The person carrying out the check should be trained to recognise relevant defects and understand when an accessory must be removed from use.

Is a pre-use check the same as a thorough examination?

No.

A pre-use check is a practical check completed immediately before use. It is intended to identify visible conditions that could make the planned lift unsafe.

A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed examination carried out by a competent person. It considers deterioration and safety-critical defects and results in a written statutory report.

Pre-use checkThorough examinationCompleted before useNormally completed every six monthsUsually completed by the user or operatorCompleted by a competent personLooks for readily identifiable defectsInvolves a detailed assessmentConsiders suitability for the planned liftAssesses safety and continued useDoes not normally produce a statutory reportRequires a LOLER-compliant written reportDoes not replace examinationDoes not replace pre-use checks

A pre-use check should not be recorded as a thorough examination, even where the person carrying it out has substantial lifting experience.

Are formal inspections needed between thorough examinations?

Not always.

The HSE states that lifting accessories do not normally need a separate formal inspection regime where proper pre-use checks are completed and the accessories receive their standard thorough examinations.

However, additional inspections may be appropriate where the risk assessment, manufacturer’s instructions, industry guidance or conditions of use indicate that deterioration must be monitored more closely.

This could apply where accessories are:

• Used intensively

• Exposed to aggressive chemicals

• Used in high-temperature environments

• Regularly transported between sites

• Used in marine or offshore conditions

• Exposed to abrasive loads

• Used for critical lifting operations

• Frequently hired or transferred between users

• Subject to repeated contamination

• Known to deteriorate rapidly

The nature and frequency of any additional inspection should be based on risk rather than an arbitrary universal period.

What should be examined on a chain sling?

A chain sling examination may consider:

• Chain wear

• Elongation

• Distorted or twisted links

• Cracks, cuts, gouges or corrosion

• Heat damage

• Master links

• Intermediate links

• Connecting components

• Hooks and safety catches

• Shortening devices

• Identification tags

• Grade and manufacturer information

• Evidence of incompatible replacement components

• Unauthorised welding or repair

Chain slings should not be knotted, bolted together or repaired using improvised components.

A user should not assume that components with similar dimensions are compatible. Mixing grades or components from different systems can affect the assembly’s rated capacity and performance.

What should be checked on a webbing or round sling?

Potential defects include:

• Cuts

• Tears

• Abrasion

• Damaged edges

• Broken stitching

• Exposed load-bearing fibres

• Heat damage

• Chemical attack

• Embedded particles

• Knots

• Damaged eyes

• Worn protective sleeves

• Distorted or damaged fittings

• Illegible identification labels

• UV-related deterioration

• Contamination concealing damage

A missing or unreadable label is particularly important. If the sling’s identity, material, length or working load limit cannot be established, the user may be unable to confirm that it is suitable for the lift.

Sling colour alone should not be used as the only evidence of capacity.

Webbing and round slings should be protected from sharp edges using suitable edge protection. Placing an undamaged sling directly over an unprotected sharp edge can cause failure during a single lift.

What should be examined on a wire-rope sling?

A wire-rope sling may need to be assessed for:

• Broken wires

• Localised wear

• Corrosion

• Kinks

• Crushing

• Birdcaging

• Heat damage

• Core protrusion

• Reduction in rope diameter

• Damaged eyes

• Slipped or cracked ferrules

• Damaged thimbles

• Distorted end fittings

• Inadequate or unauthorised termination

• Loss of identification

The significance of broken wires depends on matters including their number, distribution and location. This assessment should be made using appropriate rejection criteria rather than personal judgement based only on appearance.

When should shackles be removed from service?

A shackle should be quarantined where a pre-use check identifies matters such as:

• Distortion

• Cracking

• Excessive wear

• Significant corrosion

• Damaged threads

• A bent pin

• An incorrect or incompatible pin

• Evidence of heat damage

• Illegible identification

• Unauthorised welding or repair

• Modification

• Inability to seat or secure the pin correctly

A bolt, piece of bar or pin from another shackle must not be substituted for the correct shackle pin.

Side loading can substantially affect a shackle’s capacity and may cause distortion. The user should confirm that the shackle type, orientation and loading arrangement are suitable for the planned operation.

When should hooks and eyebolts be inspected?

Hooks and eyebolts should receive a pre-use check before use and be included within the applicable thorough examination arrangement.

For hooks, relevant defects may include:

• Increased throat opening

• Twisting

• Wear

• Cracking

• Corrosion

• Heat damage

• A damaged or missing safety catch

• Damage around the load-bearing area

• Unauthorised grinding, welding or reshaping

For eyebolts and hoist rings, checks may include:

• Damaged threads

• Cracking

• Distortion

• Wear

• Corrosion

• Inability to seat correctly

• Incorrect thread engagement

• Damage to the supporting structure

• Restricted movement of swivelling components

• Incorrect loading direction

• Missing identification

Standard eyebolts may have significant loading limitations. An eyebolt suitable for a straight vertical lift may not be suitable for angular loading.

The lifting point and the structure into which it is fitted must both be suitable for the applied load.

Do lifting beams and spreader beams require six-monthly examination?

Yes. Detachable lifting beams and spreader beams are lifting accessories and normally require thorough examination every six months unless an examination scheme specifies otherwise.

Their examination may include:

• Main structural members

• Welds

• Bolted connections

• Lifting eyes

• Attachment points

• Hooks or shackles

• Adjustable sections

• Locking devices

• Distortion

• Cracking

• Corrosion

• Identification

• Safe working load information

• Configuration markings

• Evidence of overloading

• Unauthorised modification or repair

Some beams have different capacities depending on their configuration or lifting-point position. The markings and instructions must enable the correct capacity to be established for the arrangement being used.

What happens if an accessory has no identification tag?

It should not be used where its identity and rated capacity cannot be reliably established.

Identification may provide information such as:

• A unique asset or serial number

• Working load limit

• Grade or material

• Manufacturer

• Sling length

• Number of legs

• Relevant configuration

• Traceability information

A missing tag does not necessarily mean the accessory is physically damaged, but it may prevent the user from confirming capacity, compatibility and examination status.

Attaching a new tag without establishing the accessory’s specification and history is not an adequate solution. A competent assessment is required.

What if an accessory has a coloured inspection tag?

Colour coding can help users identify which accessories are included in a current examination period, but it has limitations.

A coloured tag does not prove that:

• The accessory is undamaged

• It is suitable for the proposed lift

• Its capacity is adequate

• It has not been overloaded since examination

• The identification matches the report

• The next examination date has not passed

Colour systems can also differ between businesses and sites. Users should understand the local system and confirm the accessory’s actual status where necessary.

A tag is a visual management aid, not a substitute for the examination report or pre-use check.

Do new lifting accessories need a thorough examination before use?

LOLER includes provisions governing examination before first use.

A newly supplied accessory may not require a separate thorough examination before first use where the relevant legal conditions are satisfied and appropriate conformity documentation is available. However, the duty holder must still verify that:

• The accessory is correctly identified

• Required documentation has been supplied

• Its capacity and configuration are known

• It is suitable for the intended use

• It has not been damaged during transport or storage

• It is entered into the inspection register

• Its next examination date is controlled

A purchase invoice alone may not provide the technical and conformity information required.

Where documentation is missing, the accessory’s origin is uncertain or there is evidence of damage, it should not automatically be placed into service.

What about hired lifting accessories?

The user should confirm the condition and examination status of hired accessories before use.

Check that:

1. Each accessory can be identified.

2. Its working load limit is marked.

3. Its examination report is current.

4. The identification matches the report.

5. The supplied configuration matches the intended lift.

6. No dangerous defect is listed as outstanding.

7. The accessory passes its pre-use check.

8. Manufacturer information is available where necessary.

9. It has not been damaged during delivery.

10. Any lifting points or connecting components are compatible.

Hiring equipment does not remove the user’s responsibility to ensure that it is suitable and safe for the planned operation.

When is an additional thorough examination required?

An additional examination may be needed following an exceptional circumstance liable to jeopardise safety.

Examples include:

• Known or suspected overloading

• Shock loading

• A dropped load

• Impact damage

• Fire or excessive heat

• Chemical contamination

• Significant corrosion

• Damage during transport

• Failure of an associated component

• Prolonged storage in unsuitable conditions

• Major modification

• Safety-critical repair

• Uncertain history

• Another event capable of affecting integrity

The accessory should be quarantined while the need for examination, testing, repair or disposal is determined.

Its original six-month examination date should not be used as justification for continued use following a damaging event.

Does every lifting accessory need its own identification?

Accessories should be identifiable and traceable to their examination records.

For many accessories, this means an individual serial number, asset number or durable identification tag.

Certain matched assemblies may be recorded as a complete item. The arrangement should make it possible to establish:

• What was examined

• Which report applies

• The safe working load

• The next examination date

• Whether the configuration has changed

• Whether any defect remains outstanding

Generic descriptions such as “various slings” provide poor traceability, particularly where accessories are distributed across vehicles, workshops and construction sites.

What must the thorough examination report contain?

The written report must contain the information required by LOLER, including details such as:

• The organisation for whom the examination was made

• Identification of the accessory

• The examination date

• Safe working load

• The reason for the examination

• Details of tests carried out

• The date by which the next examination is required

• Defects that are or could become dangerous

• The time allowed for remedial action

• Identification of the competent person

• Authentication of the report

The document’s title is less important than its contents. A label or certificate stating “passed” is not a replacement for a complete Report of Thorough Examination.

Reports may be stored electronically, provided they can be produced when required and are protected against unauthorised alteration.

Who can examine lifting accessories?

The thorough examination must be completed by a competent person with appropriate practical knowledge, theoretical knowledge and experience of the accessories concerned.

The competent person must be able to:

• Detect relevant defects

• Apply suitable rejection criteria

• Assess the significance of deterioration

• Determine whether continued use is safe

• Decide whether testing or further investigation is required

• Specify remedial deadlines

• Produce a compliant report

Competence should cover the accessory types being examined. Experience with general lifting equipment does not automatically establish detailed competence for every specialist attachment or below-the-hook device.

The examiner must also be sufficiently independent and impartial to make objective decisions.

Does every accessory need to be proof-load tested?

No.

Routine proof-load testing is not automatically required at every thorough examination.

The competent person should determine whether testing is necessary after considering:

• The accessory type

• Manufacturer information

• Applicable standards

• Examination findings

• Repair or modification history

• The nature of any suspected damage

• The examination scheme

• The risks associated with testing

Some tests can damage equipment or provide limited information if used unnecessarily. Visual examination, measurement and other methods may be more appropriate.

A proof-load certificate should not be treated as a substitute for a thorough examination report unless the complete statutory examination requirements have also been satisfied.

What should happen when a defect is found?

The accessory should be controlled immediately according to the seriousness of the defect.

Where a defect presents an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury:

• The accessory must not be used until the defect is remedied

• The duty holder should be informed immediately

• The defect must be included in the written report

• The competent person must follow the applicable reporting requirements

Where a defect could become dangerous but does not require immediate withdrawal, the report should specify the period within which it must be remedied. The accessory must not be used after that period if the defect remains unresolved.

In practice, many defective slings and smaller accessories are destroyed rather than repaired. This prevents them from being returned to service accidentally.

A rejected accessory should be:

• Clearly marked

• Physically segregated

• Prevented from being issued

• Recorded in the defect system

• Repaired only where an approved repair is possible

• Destroyed in a way that prevents reuse where it is being discarded

• Removed from the active register after disposal

Placing a defective sling in a corner of the workshop is not reliable quarantine.

How should lifting accessories be stored?

Correct storage helps prevent deterioration between uses.

Accessories should generally be stored:

• In a clean, dry and organised area

• Off the floor

• Away from vehicle traffic

• Away from damaging chemicals

• Away from excessive heat

• Away from sharp edges

• Without knots, crushing or excessive bending

• In a way that preserves identification

• So that defective and serviceable items cannot be mixed

Webbing slings may be particularly vulnerable to chemicals, heat, sharp objects and prolonged environmental exposure. Chain and wire-rope assemblies can corrode or become mechanically damaged if left on the ground or transported loose in vehicles.

Storage arrangements should make it easy to complete pre-use checks and locate accessories when their examinations become due.

Common lifting-accessory inspection mistakes

Believing the interval is 12 months

Lifting accessories normally require thorough examination every six months, even when the lifting machine itself is on a 12-month interval.

Relying only on the six-month examination

Accessories can be damaged during a single operation. A pre-use check remains necessary.

Treating an inspection colour as proof of safety

A colour tag indicates an administrative status, not the accessory’s present condition or suitability for a particular lift.

Keeping unidentifiable accessories in service

If capacity and examination status cannot be established, the accessory should be quarantined.

Ignoring accessories kept in vehicles

Slings and shackles stored in engineers’ vans, crane cabs or site containers can easily be omitted from the examination programme.

Using damaged accessories until the examiner visits

A failed pre-use check requires immediate action. The user should not continue using the item because the next examination is several months away.

Using improvised components

Ordinary bolts, fabricated hooks and unidentified connectors must not be substituted for suitable lifting accessories.

Failing to consider sling angles

The force in each sling leg can increase significantly as the angle changes. Capacity must be determined for the actual configuration.

Allowing defective accessories back into circulation

Rejected items should be securely quarantined and destroyed where appropriate.

Assuming all accessories can be repaired

Repairs must be technically suitable, completed by an appropriate organisation and supported by the necessary evidence. Improvised welding, grinding or restitching can make an accessory unsafe.

A practical lifting-accessory control system

A reliable system can be organised around seven stages.

1. Identify

Give each accessory or controlled assembly a durable identity and record its working load limit, type and location.

2. Register

Maintain a register showing:

• Unique identification

• Description

• Manufacturer

• Working load limit

• Relevant configuration

• Location or custodian

• Date placed into service

• Last examination date

• Next examination date

• Current status

3. Check before use

Train users to complete appropriate pre-use checks and recognise rejection conditions.

4. Control storage and issue

Keep accessories in suitable storage and prevent defective, overdue or unidentified items from being issued.

5. Arrange thorough examination

Book the examination before the six-month deadline or follow the intervals in the applicable examination scheme.

6. Act on defects

Quarantine defective items immediately, complete authorised repairs where appropriate and destroy rejected accessories so they cannot be reused.

7. Retain evidence

Keep examination reports, repair evidence, disposal records and relevant conformity documentation in a form that can be retrieved when required.

For multi-site businesses, the register should account for accessories held in:

• Workshops

• Warehouses

• Site stores

• Service vehicles

• Crane cabs

• Mobile plant

• Construction compounds

• Hire fleets

• Remote facilities

The practical answer

Lifting accessories should be checked before every use and thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months, unless a suitable examination scheme specifies different intervals.

Additional examination may be required following overloading, damage, modification, prolonged inactivity or another exceptional circumstance liable to jeopardise safety.

The six-month examination does not replace pre-use checks, correct selection, suitable storage or competent lift planning. A current report cannot make a damaged accessory or an unsuitable lifting arrangement safe.

Every accessory should be identifiable, traceable to its examination record and marked with the information needed to establish its capacity. Accessories that are damaged, overdue or of uncertain identity should be quarantined until their status is resolved.

Excel Inspection Solutions provides independent thorough examinations of slings, shackles, lifting beams, lifting attachments and other lifting accessories across the South East and wider UK.

To arrange a lifting-accessory examination or discuss a multi-site inspection programme, call 01634 907073 or email enquiries@eis-uk.com.

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