Mobile Plant Inspections in Surrey
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Mobile plant encompasses a wide range of powered machinery used on construction sites, in quarries, and across industrial operations. Telehandlers, excavators, and forklift trucks are among the most commonly used — and most frequently involved in workplace incidents. Thorough examinations ensure these machines meet the safety standards required under both LOLER and PUWER.
Mobile Plant on Surrey's Active Sites
Mobile plant in Surrey works across construction, civils, demolition, and materials handling. Plant rarely comes to a workshop for inspection — our Engineer Surveyors attend sites with CDM-compliant access arrangements.
Mobile plant — telehandlers, forklifts, and excavators with lifting duties — is heavily represented across Surrey's construction sites, residential developments, and the substantial timber and builders' merchant base serving the county's affluent home-improvement market. Surrey's rural south and downland operations also generate a steady volume of farm and estate telehandler inspections.
Plant Categories on Surrey Sites
- Telehandlers (telescopic handlers)
- Counterbalance and reach forklifts
- Excavators with lifting duties
- Rough terrain forklifts
- Lorry-mounted cranes (hiab/grab)
- Skid steer loaders with lifting attachments
Mobile plant thorough examinations focus on the structural integrity of booms, chassis, and lifting frames. Hydraulic systems are checked for leaks, hose condition, and ram seal integrity. Safety devices including load moment indicators, overload cutouts, and tilt protection are tested. Operator controls, braking systems, and stability mechanisms are verified. Attachments such as forks, buckets, and lifting jibs are assessed for wear and secure fixing.
Key Industrial and Commercial Areas in Surrey
PUWER and LOLER Coverage for Surrey Plant
Most plant on Surrey sites operates under both regulatory regimes simultaneously: PUWER for the machine itself, LOLER for any lifting configuration (quick hitches, lifting eyes, work platforms). Our examinations cover both so duty holders aren't left filling regulatory gaps between two separate inspections.
Legal Requirements and Inspection Frequency
Mobile plant used for lifting operations falls under LOLER and requires thorough examination at prescribed intervals. Where the machine is also classified as work equipment under PUWER, both sets of regulations apply simultaneously. The HSE emphasises that an excavator used for any lifting duty — even occasional — becomes lifting equipment and must be examined accordingly.
Required Inspection Interval
Every 12 months for the lifting function; every 6 months for lifting accessories attached to the plant
Scheduling Note for Surrey
Surrey farm and estate telehandlers carry the same LOLER duty as construction equipment. Our surveyors regularly attend rural Surrey sites alongside the M25-corridor industrial work.
Common Defects Identified
During mobile plant inspections across Surrey, our Engineer Surveyors regularly identify:
- Hydraulic ram seal failure and oil leaks
- Boom section wear pins and bushes beyond tolerance
- Fork blade cracking or heel wear on forklifts
- Tilt sensor or load moment indicator malfunction
- Structural damage to ROPS/FOPS safety cabs
- Worn or incorrectly adjusted parking brakes
Key Sectors Driving Mobile Plant Inspections Demand in Surrey
- Construction (residential and mixed-use across the county)
- Builders' merchants and timber trade
- Warehousing and logistics (M25 corridor)
- Agriculture and estate management (Surrey Hills)
- Quarrying and aggregates
- Waste management and recycling
Infrastructure and Major Projects
Surrey's infrastructure drives significant demand for mobile plant inspections. Key sites and projects include:
- M25 corridor (Surrey northern boundary)
- M23 to Gatwick (Surrey eastern boundary)
- M3 corridor (Camberley to Sunbury)
- A3 corridor (Guildford to London)
- Heathrow Airport (immediate northern proximity)
- Gatwick Airport (immediate south-eastern proximity)
LOLER & PUWER Compliance Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a forklift truck need a thorough examination?
Yes. Forklift trucks are lifting equipment under LOLER and require thorough examination at least every 12 months. The forks themselves are lifting accessories and should be examined at least every 6 months.
Is an excavator classed as lifting equipment?
An excavator used for any lifting operation — including lifting materials, pipes, or any other load — becomes lifting equipment under LOLER and must be thoroughly examined. This applies even if lifting is not the machine's primary function.
What about telehandlers used on farms?
Agricultural telehandlers are subject to the same LOLER requirements as those used on construction sites. The duty holder — the farmer or farm business — is legally responsible for ensuring thorough examinations are carried out on time.
Do you cover the whole of Surrey, including the rural south?
Yes. We provide LOLER, PUWER and PSSR inspections across Surrey — from the M25-corridor business parks in the north through Guildford and Woking down to the Surrey Hills and the borders with West Sussex and Hampshire. Multi-site days are routed efficiently to keep travel cost-per-item down for buyers with sites across the county.
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