Lifting Equipment Inspections in Medway, Kent
Local Service Hub
Lifting equipment covers a broad category of machinery used to raise, lower, and suspend loads across industrial, commercial, and public sector environments. From chain hoists and pulley blocks to powered lifting tables and dock levellers, these items require regular thorough examination to remain legally compliant and safe for continued use.
Lifting Equipment in Medway
Lifting equipment in Medway ranges from workshop hoists and pallet stackers through to industrial dock-yard equipment. The same LOLER Regulation 9 duty applies across the whole range.
The Medway towns (Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood, and Rainham) form a large, continuous urban area. The area has a strong industrial heritage rooted in the former Chatham Dockyard and retains a substantial engineering, manufacturing, and construction sector. Rochester Airport industrial estate and the Medway City Estate are significant centres of commercial activity. Our Engineer Surveyors provide lifting equipment inspections to businesses throughout Medway and nearby areas including Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham.
Equipment vs Accessories: Two Schedules
LOLER sets different default intervals: lifting equipment (hoists, lift trucks, dock levellers) at least every 12 months, and lifting accessories (slings, shackles, eyebolts, lifting beams) at least every 6, unless an examination scheme sets otherwise. For most Medway businesses, both regimes apply at once.
Equipment Subject to LOLER in Medway
A thorough examination of general lifting equipment assesses the structural integrity of load-bearing components, condition of chains, ropes and slings, operation of braking and locking mechanisms, security of anchor points and fixings, and verification that safe working load markings are legible and accurate.
Equipment We Typically Inspect in Medway
Based on the industries operating in and around Medway, our Engineer Surveyors commonly carry out lifting equipment inspections on:
- Overhead cranes and runway beams in Medway City Estate engineering and fabrication units
- Dock levellers and loading bay equipment at Gillingham Business Park warehouses
- Chain hoists and lifting tackle in maritime services and ship-repair operations on the Medway
Inspection Frequency and Legal Requirements
Under LOLER Regulation 9, lifting equipment must receive a thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, or 6 months for equipment used to lift persons and for lifting accessories such as slings, shackles and eyebolts, however lightly used. An examination scheme drawn up by a competent person can set different intervals.
Required Inspection Interval
At least every 6 months for lifting accessories and every 12 months for lifting equipment (6 months if lifting persons), unless an examination scheme sets different intervals
Industries We Support in Medway
Medway's local economy includes engineering and manufacturing, construction, logistics, and maritime services. These are sectors where lifting equipment inspections are regularly required to maintain legal compliance and workplace safety.
Across Kent, Construction and logistics dominate demand for lifting equipment inspections across Kent. The Thames Gateway development programme continues to drive building activity in the north of the county, while cross-Channel freight operations sustain a large fleet of material handling equipment along the M20 corridor. Manufacturing, food processing, and agricultural operations across the county's rural areas also generate steady inspection demand.
Why Lifting Equipment Inspections Matter in Medway
Medway retains a strong engineering and manufacturing base: the Medway City Estate alone houses fabrication, machining, and processing units running overhead cranes, runway beams, and lifting tackle daily. Add the maritime services on the river and a steady warehousing footprint at Gillingham Business Park, and the volume of LOLER-regulated equipment is substantial.
Our Coverage Around Medway
We cover the Medway towns including Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood, and Rainham, plus the Hoo Peninsula. Our engineers regularly attend Medway City Estate, Gillingham Business Park, Rochester Airport industrial area, Medway Maritime Hospital, and developments along the river including Chatham Waters and Rochester Riverside.
Covering Medway and Kent
Kent businesses often require flexible scheduling to accommodate the county's spread-out geography, from the Thames Estuary in the north to the Romney Marsh in the south. Our local Engineer Surveyors operate across the entire county, reducing travel time and enabling responsive service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as lifting equipment under LOLER?
LOLER defines lifting equipment as any work equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, including the load itself. This covers cranes, hoists, lifts, slings, chains, eyebolts, and even a simple rope and pulley arrangement.
What is the difference between a thorough examination and a service?
A thorough examination is a statutory safety inspection carried out by an independent competent person. It is not the same as routine maintenance or servicing. The examiner looks specifically for defects that could lead to dangerous failure, whereas a service focuses on operational performance.
Do we need to keep records of thorough examinations?
Yes. LOLER requires that a written report is produced after every thorough examination. These reports must be kept available for inspection by the HSE. Reports for lifting equipment must be retained until the next examination; reports for lifting accessories must be kept for at least two years.
Do you cover all of Kent including rural areas?
Yes. Our Engineer Surveyors are based across Kent and cover the entire county from the Thames Estuary towns in the north through to the Romney Marsh in the south. We regularly attend sites in rural locations, farms, and small workshops as well as major industrial estates and construction sites.
Lifting Equipment Inspections in Kent
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