What Is Lifting Equipment Under LOLER?

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, commonly referred to as LOLER, place legal duties on organisations that own, operate or control lifting equipment. One of the most common compliance questions is what is lifting equipment under LOLER and how the regulations apply in real world settings.

What Does LOLER Mean by Lifting Equipment?

Under LOLER, lifting equipment is defined as any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads. A load can include goods, materials or people. This definition is intentionally broad and covers both fixed and mobile equipment across a wide range of environments.

If equipment is used to raise, lower or support a load, it is likely to be classed as lifting equipment and subject to statutory inspection requirements.

Common Examples of Lifting Equipment

Lifting equipment commonly found in workplaces, residential buildings and public environments includes:

• Passenger lifts and elevators

• Goods lifts and service lifts

• Platform lifts and wheelchair lifts

• Disabled access and evacuation lifts

• Home and domestic lifts

• Mobile elevating work platforms such as scissor lifts and cherry pickers

• Hoists, including patient hoists and ceiling track systems

• Cranes, gantries and jib cranes

• Lifting accessories such as slings, chains, ropes and eyebolts

Each of these examples falls within the scope of LOLER when used at work.

Does Lifting Equipment Always Need a LOLER Inspection?

In most cases, lifting equipment used at work must undergo a Thorough Examination by a competent person at set intervals. This applies regardless of how often the equipment is used and regardless of routine maintenance or servicing.

Lifting equipment used to lift people must normally be examined every six months. Equipment used only to lift goods must be examined every twelve months, unless a Written Scheme of Examination specifies different intervals.

What Is a Thorough Examination?

A Thorough Examination is a detailed and independent inspection required by law. It is designed to identify defects that could affect the safe operation of lifting equipment and must be recorded in a written report.

These inspections are separate from maintenance and are intended to provide an objective assessment of safety and compliance.

Who Is Responsible for Compliance?

Responsibility for LOLER compliance sits with dutyholders. This may include employers, landlords, building owners, managing agents or facilities teams, depending on who has control of the equipment.

Failing to identify lifting equipment correctly or missing inspection intervals can result in enforcement action, insurance issues and increased safety risk.

Managing Lifting Equipment Safely

The safest approach is to maintain a clear register of lifting equipment, understand which regulations apply and ensure inspections are carried out on time by a competent and independent inspection provider.

For organisations responsible for multiple assets, structured inspection programmes help reduce risk and ensure ongoing compliance.

Further Guidance on Lifting Equipment Inspections

For a detailed overview of statutory inspection requirements, including how inspections are carried out and which equipment is covered, view our dedicated Lifting Equipment Inspections page.

This page explains inspection intervals, reporting requirements and the types of equipment we inspect under LOLER and PUWER.