Service Overview
Maintain passenger safety and operational reliability with statutory lift inspections conducted by independent Engineer Surveyors.
Passenger and goods lift inspections are a strict legal requirement for businesses operating internal transport equipment. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), duty holders must ensure that all lifts are safe, correctly installed, and subject to regular independent Thorough Examinations.
Responsibility for compliance sits with the duty holder. This typically includes employers, building owners, facilities managers, and letting agencies. Inspections must be carried out by a competent and independent person at defined intervals.
Failure to meet these obligations can result in enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), invalidated insurance policies, and increased risk of equipment failure. Regular inspection ensures both legal compliance and the continued safety of users.
We provide lift inspections across Kent, London, Essex and throughout the UK through our network of qualified Engineer Surveyors.
This page forms part of our wider inspection services covering lifting equipment, cranes, access equipment and plant machinery. Explore related inspection services and compliance guidance throughout our site.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires that Thorough Examinations are carried out by a competent person with the necessary technical knowledge and experience to identify defects and assess their significance.
The competent person must also be independent and impartial. In practice, this means inspection should be carried out separately from routine maintenance to avoid conflicts of interest.
Our inspections are delivered by qualified Engineer Surveyors operating independently of lift maintenance providers, ensuring objective reporting and clear compliance outcomes.
Under LOLER, this broad category covers critical infrastructure used to move people or materials between floors securely. This spans environments ranging from busy public retail centers operating escalators to industrial warehousing utilizing heavy freight lifts.
A critical distinction exists based on payload scope. Equipment designed strictly to lift goods adheres to different compliance schedules than equipment engineered to transport people, which faces far stricter regulatory protocols.
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 govern the structural integrity and operation of lifts. It requires that all lift operations are appropriately planned, supervised, and carried out safely.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 acts as an overarching legal framework covering general machine safety and suitability in the workplace. Together, they form a unified compliance requirement for all commercial lifts.
Under LOLER, the frequency of a Thorough Examination is legally predetermined:
Alternatively, a "Written Scheme of Examination", drawn up by a Competent Person, may specify distinct intervals.
A Thorough Examination is a systematic, detailed inspection of equipment and safety-critical parts. It is far more rigorous than routine maintenance checks.
While maintenance prevents operational breakdown, a Thorough Examination specifically targets hidden structural degradation and safety mechanism functionality. Because it acts as an audit of the equipment's primary safety, it must be conducted entirely independently from routine servicing providers.
Following the examination, it is a legal requirement that a detailed statutory report is generated and retained by the duty holder.
We carry out Thorough Examinations across a wide range of commercial equipment. Explore our specific inspection services below:
We deliver inspection services across the UK. View availability in your area:
Regular independent inspections support compliance with UK legislation, reduce the risk of equipment failure, and help duty holders meet their legal responsibilities. They also form an essential part of insurance and audit requirements, ensuring that equipment remains safe for continued use.
Following inspection, a detailed digital report is issued outlining the condition of the equipment, any defects identified, and the next due inspection date. Where serious defects are found, guidance is provided on necessary corrective actions in line with statutory requirements.
Yes. Under LOLER 1998, lifts used at work and in commercial buildings must undergo regular Thorough Examination.
Every 6 months for equipment carrying people. Lifts handling strictly goods require inspection every 12 months.
The duty holder, which is typically the building owner, facilities manager, or employer responsible for the lifting equipment.
HSE strongly advises against this to avoid conflicts of interest. The examination must be performed by an impartial and independent competent person.
Non-compliance compromises passenger safety and can lead to immediate HSE enforcement action and fully invalidated liability insurance.
We deliver passenger and goods lifts inspections across Kent, London and Essex, supporting commercial and public sector clients with fully compliant, independent statutory inspection services.
Securing compliance requirements and statutory reporting for duty holders throughout the major Home Counties.
Ensure strict adherence to the latest structural and safety standards. Our fully certified examinations directly satisfy compliance mandates for LOLER 1998 and SAFed Guidelines.
Detailed reviews verify all critical safety and mechanical elements flawlessly.
Condition of lift car, doors, and interlocks
Integrity of suspension ropes and traction sheaves
Functionality of overspeed governors and safety gear
Operation of machine room equipment
Condition of pit environments and buffers
Speak with our certified surveying specialists today and lock in your statutory examinations.
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