Work at Height Equipment Inspections in Surrey
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Falls from a height are the most common kind of fatal accident at work in Great Britain, around a quarter of worker fatal injuries in 2025/26 on HSE's provisional figures (Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2026). MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms), scaffold hoists, and powered access equipment must be thoroughly examined at regular intervals to protect the workers who rely on them. A thorough examination is not optional: it is a legal requirement wherever equipment is used to lift people to height.
MEWPs and Access Equipment in Surrey
Work-at-height equipment in Surrey ranges from boom lifts on commercial refurbishments through scissor lifts in warehouses to mast climbers on facade projects. Almost all of it is used to lift people, so LOLER's default is a thorough examination at least every 6 months, unless an examination scheme sets different intervals.
Work at height equipment is in continuous use across Surrey's commercial fit-out, building maintenance, and construction sectors. Cherry pickers and scissor lifts maintain Surrey's substantial commercial and retail estate, mast climbers and powered access platforms support residential development sites across the county, and an active fleet of mobile access platforms covers Surrey's tree surgery and external building maintenance work.
Access Equipment We Examine in Surrey
- Scissor lifts (electric and diesel)
- Cherry pickers and boom lifts
- Truck-mounted access platforms
- Mast climbers
- Scaffold hoists and material hoists
- Building maintenance units (BMUs)
Access equipment thorough examinations prioritise platform stability and guardrail security, since personnel are directly exposed to fall risk. Hydraulic and electrical systems controlling boom extension and platform levelling are tested. Emergency lowering mechanisms must function independently of the main control system. Outrigger interlock systems and chassis levelling indicators are verified. Structural integrity of the boom, mast, and platform decking is assessed for fatigue, cracking, and corrosion.
Key Industrial and Commercial Areas in Surrey
Legal Requirements and Inspection Frequency
Because MEWPs and access platforms are used to lift persons, LOLER Regulation 9 requires thorough examination at intervals not exceeding 6 months, twice as often as equipment used only for lifting loads, unless an examination scheme sets different intervals. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 impose additional duties on employers to plan, organise, and supervise work at height using suitable equipment.
Required Inspection Interval
At least every 6 months for equipment lifting persons, or as an examination scheme sets
Scheduling Note for Surrey
MEWPs lift personnel, so LOLER requires a thorough examination at least every 6 months, twice as often as load-only equipment, unless an examination scheme sets different intervals. Surrey hire-fleet operators benefit from coordinated examination scheduling against hire-in/hire-out cycles.
Hire Fleet Coordination Across Surrey
Much of the access equipment in use across Surrey is on hire rather than owned. We work directly with hire desks and end users to schedule examinations against the hire-in/hire-out cycle, so equipment doesn't sit beyond its examination date in a depot or on a site.
Key Sectors Driving Work at Height Equipment Inspections Demand in Surrey
- Construction and fit-out (residential and commercial developments)
- Facilities management and building maintenance
- Window cleaning and external maintenance
- Telecommunications mast work
- Tree surgery and grounds maintenance (Surrey Hills)
- Film and broadcast production (Surrey hosts multiple production sites)
Common Defects Identified
During work at height equipment inspections across Surrey, our Engineer Surveyors regularly identify:
- Emergency descent system failure or slow response
- Platform guardrail looseness or gate latch failure
- Boom section hydraulic cylinder leaks
- Outrigger interlock bypass or malfunction
- Control system wiring damage or water ingress
- Chassis structural cracking on older machines
Infrastructure and Major Projects
Surrey's infrastructure drives significant demand for work at height equipment 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
Why is the inspection interval 6 months instead of 12?
LOLER requires equipment used for lifting persons to be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months, rather than the 12 months for load-only lifting equipment, unless an examination scheme sets different intervals. This reflects the higher risk to human life if the equipment were to fail.
Do hired MEWPs need a thorough examination?
Yes. The duty holder, typically the company hiring the MEWP, is responsible for ensuring the equipment has a valid thorough examination certificate before it is used. Reputable hire companies will provide this, but the duty holder must verify it.
What about scaffold hoists used temporarily on site?
Scaffold hoists and material hoists used on construction sites require thorough examination before first use and then at least every 6 months if lifting persons, or 12 months if lifting loads only, unless an examination scheme sets different intervals. Temporary use does not exempt the equipment from inspection.
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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Contact us to arrange a Thorough Examination in Surrey and ensure your equipment remains compliant and safe.
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