Mobile Plant Inspections in Sussex

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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 Sussex's Active Sites

Mobile plant in Sussex 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 inspection demand in Sussex is anchored by construction across the Gatwick / Crawley corridor and the south-coast residential development pipeline, the Manor Royal logistics fleet, and a substantial agricultural plant base across the inland South Downs and the West Sussex farming belt. Telehandlers, forklifts, and excavators with lifting duties are in continuous use across all four operating environments.

Plant Categories on Sussex 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 Sussex

Manor Royal Business District, Crawley

Newhaven Enterprise Zone, East Sussex

Goodwood Aerodrome and surrounding industrial estates, Chichester

Brighton Marina commercial estate

Foredown Industrial Estate, Portslade

Whitehouse Lane Industrial Estate, Worthing

PUWER and LOLER Coverage for Sussex Plant

Most plant on Sussex 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 Sussex

Sussex farm telehandlers carry the same LOLER duty as construction-site machines — the duty holder (the farm business) is legally responsible. Our surveyors attend agricultural sites across the South Downs alongside the Crawley and south-coast industrial work.

Common Defects Identified

During mobile plant inspections across Sussex, 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 Sussex

Construction (Gatwick / Crawley corridor, south coast)
Logistics and distribution (Manor Royal)
Agriculture and estate management (South Downs, West Sussex)
Builders' merchants and timber trade
Quarrying and aggregates
Waste management and recycling

Infrastructure and Major Projects

Sussex's infrastructure drives significant demand for mobile plant inspections. Key sites and projects include:

London Gatwick Airport (north Sussex)
Port of Newhaven (cross-Channel ferry)
M23 / A23 corridor (London to south coast)
A27 corridor (Brighton to Chichester to Portsmouth)
Brighton mainline rail to London
Channel and ferry connections to Dieppe

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 both East Sussex and West Sussex?

Yes. Our Sussex coverage spans both ceremonial counties — from the Hastings and Bexhill areas in the east through Brighton, Worthing, and Chichester to the West Sussex boundary with Hampshire. Multi-site routing along the A27 and around the Gatwick / Crawley corridor keeps travel cost-per-item efficient for buyers with sites across Sussex.