Crane Inspections

Cranes operate at higher loads, larger spans, and greater consequence of failure than most items of lifting equipment. A defect overlooked on a hand-pulled chain hoist is a problem; the same defect overlooked on a 50-tonne mobile crane is a different category of risk altogether. Statutory thorough examinations exist precisely to keep that risk in check.

We provide crane inspections across Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and throughout the UK through a network of qualified Engineer Surveyors operating independently of maintenance providers.

Crane Categories We Inspect

"Crane" under LOLER covers a broad set of machine types. We carry out thorough examinations on the full range of fixed and mobile cranes operating in commercial and industrial environments:

• Tower cranes — typically used on construction sites; require structural, slewing, and climbing-frame inspections.
• Mobile cranes — including all-terrain, rough-terrain, and crawler cranes operating on temporary lifts.
• Overhead travelling cranes and gantry cranes — fixed installations in manufacturing and warehousing.
• Jib cranes — wall-mounted or pillar-mounted cranes used for repetitive lifting operations.
• Loader cranes — lorry-mounted articulated cranes (HIAB and similar).
• Mini and spider cranes — compact tracked cranes used for confined-space or internal lifting.

BS 7121 — The British Standard for Safe Crane Use

Crane operations in the UK sit under the statutory duties of LOLER 1998 (for thorough examination of the equipment) and the more general duties of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Alongside those legal duties, BS 7121 — "Code of practice for safe use of cranes" — is the recognised industry code covering planning, supervision, and operation of crane lifts.

BS 7121 is a non-statutory code, not a regulation in its own right, but courts and the HSE routinely treat it as the benchmark for what reasonably practicable looks like in a crane operation. Following it helps duty holders evidence the general duties they hold under HSWA, while LOLER continues to provide the inspection backbone. Our reports note conditions that affect either obligation.

What a Crane Thorough Examination Covers

A crane thorough examination is a systematic safety inspection — not a service, not maintenance, and not a routine walkaround. Our Engineer Surveyors verify the following items as a minimum on every crane examination:

• Structural integrity of the boom, jib, mast, and chassis
• Wire rope condition — broken strands, birdcaging, corrosion, and termination integrity
• Hook block, safety catches, and load indicator function
• Slew rings, slew bearings, and slew drive condition
• Outrigger systems, pad pressures, and stability
• Limit switches, overload protection, and emergency stop circuits

A defect rated as a "matter of risk" (likely to result in failure before the next examination) requires immediate withdrawal from service. We issue a written report covering all observations regardless of severity, so duty holders retain a complete record for HSE inspection.

Statutory Inspection Intervals

Under LOLER, the required interval between thorough examinations depends on what the crane is used for:

• Every 12 months — cranes used for lifting goods or materials only.
• Every 6 months — cranes used to lift persons (e.g. via a man basket or work platform).
• Every 6 months — all lifting accessories used with the crane (slings, shackles, chains).

Alternatively, duty holders may operate under a Written Scheme of Examination drawn up by a competent person, which may specify alternative intervals based on intensive or unusual usage patterns.

Defects We Commonly Identify on Cranes

From the cranes we examine across the South East, the recurring defects are:

• Wire rope deterioration — broken strands, birdcaging, or surface corrosion
• Hook safety catches damaged, missing, or unable to fully close
• Slew ring wear and play exceeding manufacturer tolerances
• Cracked welds at boom or jib structural joints
• Outrigger pad damage or insufficient load-spreading area
• Limit switch or overload-protection malfunction

Executed by Independent Engineer Surveyors

LOLER requires that thorough examinations are carried out by a competent person — someone with the technical knowledge and experience to identify defects and assess their significance. HSE's Approved Code of Practice and guidance L113 sets out that competence is best supported by practical independence from any maintenance arrangement for the same equipment, to avoid conflicts of interest.

Our Engineer Surveyors hold the qualifications and continuing professional development expected by L113, and we operate independently of maintenance providers. That separation is what gives a thorough examination report its evidential weight.

Crane Inspections by Location

We deliver crane thorough examinations across our core coverage area:

• Kent Crane Inspections
• London Crane Inspections
• Essex Crane Inspections

Crane inspection by sector

Independent of any maintenance contractor — see why independence matters in statutory inspection for the structural case under LOLER Reg 9 + HSE L113.

Sector-specific patterns for crane examinations:

• Construction — tower cranes, mobile cranes, loader cranes, WSE provisions
• Warehousing & Logistics — gantry cranes, overhead travelling cranes

Frequently Asked Questions