LOLER & PUWER Guides
Expert guidance on lifting equipment compliance, inspections, and UK regulations
Plain-English guides covering LOLER, PUWER, PSSR and related compliance regimes — written for duty holders, facilities managers, care home operators, and safety professionals who need practical answers.
Every guide is grounded in current HSE guidance, British Standards, and LOLER/PUWER regulatory text. Last reviewed and updated throughout 2026.
Regulation Fundamentals
Start here if you're new to LOLER and PUWER, or need to understand which regulation applies to your equipment.
- LOLER vs PUWER: When Each Regulation Applies
Key differences between LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998, when each applies, and which equipment needs thorough examination.
- What Is a Thorough Examination Under LOLER?
What a LOLER thorough examination involves, how it differs from maintenance, who carries it out, and why it is a legal requirement.
- What Is Lifting Equipment Under LOLER?
What qualifies as lifting equipment under LOLER 1998, including cranes, hoists, lifts and accessories requiring thorough examination.
Equipment & Inspection Practice
How thorough examinations work, what competent persons look for, and how often specific equipment types need inspecting.
- LOLER Inspection Checklist
What a LOLER thorough examination checks, from structural integrity to safety devices, and what the competent person looks for.
- How Often Do MEWPs Need LOLER Inspection?
How often MEWPs, cherry pickers and scissor lifts need LOLER thorough examination, including 6 and 12-month intervals.
Sector Guides
Compliance guidance tailored to specific industries and roles — property, care, facilities, and beyond.
- LOLER for Care Homes
Lifting equipment inspection requirements for care homes including patient hoists, stairlifts, platform lifts and passenger lifts.
- LOLER for Property and Facilities Managers
LOLER compliance guide for property managers covering lift inspections, legal duties, and thorough examination requirements.
Need a thorough examination?
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