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 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", gives recommendations for the safe use of cranes, including the planning of lifting operations, and HSE's LOLER guidance (L113) points to it.

BS 7121 is a multi-part series. Part 1 (BS 7121-1, General) gives general recommendations for safe crane use, including the planning and management of lifting; across the series, the competent person who plans a lifting operation is called the appointed person. The Part 2 series covers inspection, maintenance, and thorough examination, with dedicated parts for different machine types, including loader cranes, and bridge and gantry cranes. Read alongside LOLER, it gives the competent person a reference for both how the crane should be operated and how it should be examined.

BS 7121 is a non-statutory code, not a regulation in its own right. 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:

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 guidance in L113 adds that the competent person should be sufficiently independent and impartial, and should not normally be the same person who performs routine maintenance on the equipment.

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 HSE's LOLER guidance (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

Is a crane inspection a legal requirement?

Yes. Under LOLER 1998, cranes used at work must undergo regular Thorough Examination by a competent person.

How often does a crane need to be inspected?

Typically every 12 months for goods lifting, or every 6 months if lifting people or for lifting accessories, unless a Written Scheme specifies otherwise.

Who is responsible for arranging crane inspections?

The duty holder, which is typically the employer, site contractor, or organisation responsible for the crane.

What happens if crane inspections are missed?

Non-compliance can lead to HSE enforcement action, invalidated insurance, and increased risk of operational failure.

Is a Thorough Examination the same as crane maintenance?

No. A Thorough Examination is an independent statutory safety inspection, completely separate from routine mechanical maintenance or servicing.

How often does a mobile crane need a thorough examination?

A mobile crane used for lifting goods needs a thorough examination at least every 12 months. If it is used to lift or carry people, for example with a man-riding basket, the interval is at least every 6 months. Lifting accessories used with the crane, such as slings, shackles, and chains, are examined at least every 6 months. Where a competent person has drawn up an examination scheme, its intervals apply instead.

What standard applies to crane inspections in the UK?

LOLER 1998 imposes the statutory duty to thoroughly examine cranes. BS 7121, the Code of practice for safe use of cranes, is the series HSE's LOLER guidance (L113) points to for recommendations on the safe use of cranes. Its Part 2 parts, titled "Inspection, maintenance and thorough examination", cover different crane types.