Work at Height Equipment Inspections

Work-at-height equipment carries the strictest inspection regime in UK statutory examination, and for good reason. Every MEWP, scissor lift, harness, and fall-arrest system has one thing in common: the consequence of failure is a fall from height. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) sit alongside LOLER 1998 in governing this category, and the two regulations work together rather than in isolation.

We provide work-at-height equipment inspections across Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex and throughout the UK through our network of qualified Engineer Surveyors operating independently of maintenance providers.

WAHR 2005 vs LOLER 1998: How They Overlap

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 govern any work activity where a fall from height could cause injury, regardless of the equipment involved. LOLER applies more narrowly: only when the equipment is being used to lift or lower a load (including a person).

For a MEWP or scissor lift, both regulations apply simultaneously:

• WAHR dictates that the equipment must be suitable for the task, properly planned, supervised, and inspected before each use.
• LOLER requires a statutory thorough examination of any equipment lifting persons at least every 6 months, unless an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person sets different intervals.

Pre-use checks (WAHR's daily inspection requirement) are the operator's job and form a documented record. Thorough examinations (LOLER) are the Engineer Surveyor's job and form the statutory safety audit. Both must be in place; one does not replace the other.

MEWP and Access Equipment We Inspect

"Work at height equipment" is a broad category. We carry out thorough examinations on:

• Scissor lifts: vertical-only platforms (electric, diesel, or rough-terrain)
• Boom lifts (cherry pickers): articulated and telescopic, including spider lifts and vehicle-mounted units
• Truck-mounted platforms: including utility line-of-sight platforms
• Mast climbing work platforms: used in cladding, render, and facade work
• Personnel hoists and rack-and-pinion lifts: construction-site temporary lifts
• Suspended access cradles: building maintenance units (BMUs) on commercial premises
• Fall arrest systems: harnesses, lanyards, retractable fall arresters, and anchor points

The 6-Monthly Rule for Work at Height

Unlike most lifting equipment categories, almost all powered access equipment is used to lift persons, so LOLER's 6-month default applies to it. Fall arrest equipment is inspected under different regulations. The LOLER intervals below apply unless an examination scheme sets different ones:

• Every 6 months: MEWPs, scissor lifts, boom lifts, and any platform carrying personnel
• At suitable intervals under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, not LOLER: fall arrest harnesses, lanyards, retractable fall arresters, and anchor points
• Every 6 months: suspended access cradles and BMUs
• Every 12 months: only applies to platforms used exclusively for raising materials, not persons (relatively rare in practice)

Equipment used in corrosive or marine environments, or running an unusually high duty cycle, may require shorter intervals under a Written Scheme of Examination drawn up by a competent person.

Harness and Lanyard Inspections

Personal fall-arrest equipment is not lifting equipment under LOLER: HSE guidance in L113 lists fall arrest equipment among the equipment LOLER does not cover. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require it to be inspected at suitable intervals and each time something liable to affect its safety has occurred, with the result recorded and kept until the next inspection is recorded (Regulation 12). Where a harness system is used to raise or lower a person, as in rope access or arboriculture, it is lifting equipment and LOLER applies.

We check harnesses and lanyards for:

• Webbing condition: cuts, fraying, chemical or UV degradation, contamination
• Stitching integrity, particularly at load-bearing junctions
• D-ring, buckle, and karabiner condition and function
• Energy absorber integrity (unrolled pack indicates a deployment, condemning the unit)
• Retractable fall arrester operation: lock-up test, recoil function, casing condition
• ID tagging and traceability to the inspection record

Examination at Your Premises or on Hire Fleet

Most work-at-height equipment is on hire rather than owned. We work directly with hire companies, hirers, and end-users to schedule examinations that align with the hire-out / hire-in cycle so equipment doesn't sit out of date in a depot or on a site.

For end-user owned equipment (typical for in-house facade access, line work, or specialised industrial platforms), we attend the premises to examine the fleet against a planned schedule.

Work at Height Inspections by Location

MEWP and access equipment thorough examinations across the South East:

• Kent Work at Height Inspections
• London Work at Height Inspections
• Essex Work at Height Inspections

Work-at-height equipment inspection by sector

Independent of any maintenance contractor: see why independence matters in statutory inspection for the structural case under HSE's LOLER guidance (L113).

Sector-specific patterns for MEWPs and access equipment:

• Construction: site MEWPs, hire-fleet rotations, principal contractor duty splits
• Warehousing & Logistics: order pickers, scissor lifts for rack work
• Facilities Management: building maintenance MEWP fleets

Frequently Asked Questions

Are MEWP inspections a legal requirement?

Yes. Under LOLER 1998, MEWPs and related elevating platforms used at work must undergo regular Thorough Examination.

How often does a scissor lift need to be inspected?

Because they elevate personnel, scissor lifts fall on LOLER's shorter cycle: a thorough examination at least every 6 months, or at the intervals set by an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.

Who is responsible for arranging platform inspections?

The duty holder, which is typically the employer, site contractor, or organisation leasing and using the equipment.

Do fall arrest harnesses need inspection?

Yes, but not under LOLER. HSE guidance in L113 lists fall arrest equipment among the equipment LOLER does not cover. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require personal fall protection equipment to be inspected at suitable intervals and after anything liable to affect its safety, with the result recorded (Regulation 12). Harness systems used to raise or lower a person, as in rope access, are lifting equipment and fall under LOLER.

What happens if MEWP inspections are missed?

Non-compliance compromises worker safety, can lead to HSE prohibition notices, and fully invalidates active liability insurance.