Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) came into force in 1998 and replaced all previous legislation that was in place relating to the use of lifting equipment. These regulations cover all operations and equipment which involves lifting people or goods when at work and their main aim is to reduce the risk of harm or injury occurring. They cover equipment such as cranes, lifts, hoists, chains, slings, hooks, shackles, eyebolts, rope and pulley systems, mobile elevating platforms, forklift trucks etc. The regulations also cover second hand and leased equipment and apply to all workplaces from hospitals to building sites.

These regulations are also linked to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) which requires all work equipment to be serviced and maintained on a regular basis.

To comply with the regulations it will be important to compile a dedicated risk assessment for all lifting equipment, outlining how, when and where it will be used. This assessment will also help determine if the correct equipment is being purchased or if there are any limitations that have been specified by the manufacturers.

Regulation 9 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations requires all employers to have their equipment thoroughly examined prior to it being put into service and after there has been any major alteration that could affect its operation. If equipment is intended to carry people, then a thorough examination must be undertaken every six months. Lifting equipment for all other purposes should be tested at least every twelve months unless a specific inspection regime is implemented by the examining engineer. All examinations must be undertaken by a competent person who is sufficiently independent and impartial in order that an objective decision can be made.

All lifting appliances such as slings, chains, wire ropes etc, whether or not they are used for lifting people, are required to be inspected at least every six months by a competent person. However, any lifting equipment that is used in arduous conditions is likely to require a thorough examination more frequently than the specified maximum periods and will need to be assessed by a competent engineer.

Your dedicated health and safety consultant will inspect your premises and advise you how all your lifting apparatus should be stored and provide easy to follow guidance on how to compile all the necessary risk assessments.

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