Whether you operate in construction, engineering, manufacturing, or logistics, staying compliant with LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) is a legal requirement and helps maintain a safe workplace to reduce the risk of accidents. LOLER inspections can even help identify incorrect or inefficient lifting processes if you choose an expert service like Bramley Engineering.
With many LOLER test providers, you’ll need to do more than schedule your LOLER inspections. Thoroughly preparing for LOLER tests is essential for a successful inspection – here’s how to get test ready if your LOLER inspection service doesn’t offer repairs and replacements as we do.
How to prepare for a LOLER test
Here are the 7 key steps your business should take to ensure a smooth and successful LOLER test.
1. Identify the Lifting Equipment to Be Inspected
Before your LOLER inspection, you need to identify all the equipment that falls under LOLER’s scope. This includes any machinery used for lifting or lowering loads, such as:
- Cranes
- Forklifts
- Hoists
- Chains
- Lifts (e.g., personnel lifts, scissor lifts)
- Chain blocks and lever hoists
- Winches
- Slings, lifting beams, and other lifting accessories
Make a comprehensive inventory of all lifting equipment used in your business operations and pass it over to your LOLER inspection service provider. Every piece of equipment that is subject to LOLER must be prepared for inspection to ensure full compliance. If this is your first time, we can help identify what needs to be tested – give us a call.
If you are already working with us, we will have a list of lifting equipment saved in our online database, which is regularly audited to keep it relevant during your time with us.
2. Ensure Equipment Is in Good Condition
One of the key components of passing a LOLER inspection is ensuring that all your equipment is in good working order and safe to use. This means:
- Regular Maintenance: Conduct routine maintenance on all lifting equipment before the inspection. Address any issues, and ensure all components are functioning correctly.
- Repairs: If any equipment has defects or is in need of repairs, it should be fixed prior to the LOLER inspection. Even minor issues can lead to equipment being deemed unsafe or non-compliant. Make sure to keep a record of all repairs.
- Cleaning: Make sure all equipment is clean and free from debris or blockages. This will allow the LOLER inspector to clearly assess the condition of the machinery.
- Markings: Load limits, safety warnings and signage must be clear, visible, and durable, helping operators use equipment safely and aiding smooth inspections.
Being proactive with repairs and maintenance ensures compliance on test day and helps prevent potential future downtime caused by faulty equipment. We can help you with this, offering advice on how to use, store, maintain, and document your equipment between inspections.
3. Prepare Necessary Documentation and Records
Keeping accurate records is essential for LOLER compliance and the inspector will need to see equipment history. You’ll need to gather and organise the following documents before your inspection:
- Previous LOLER reports
- Maintenance logs including repairs and servicing.
- Training records of any staff responsible for operating or maintaining the equipment.
Having this paperwork ready will help streamline the inspection process and prevent a test failure should you struggle to access records on the day.
With Bramley Engineering, having precious reports on hand is beneficial but not necessary as we manage the record-keeping of your inspection reports and certificates on our secure software, accessible 24/7 via our online portal.
4. Prepare Your Staff
Let your team know when test day is. Ensure your staff is adequately trained on their equipment and each team member is prepared to answer any questions from a LOLER inspector. Key areas of training to focus on include:
- Operator Training: All employees who use lifting equipment should be fully trained in the safe operation of that machinery. They must understand the limitations of the equipment and how to identify potential hazards.
- Maintenance Training: Staff responsible for maintaining or inspecting the equipment should be trained to spot signs of wear, damage, or malfunction.
- Compliance Training: Your team should understand LOLER regulations, how they apply to their roles, and the importance of following them.
With years of experience across a range of industries requiring lifting operations, we can help educate your staff on safer, more efficient practices to enhance compliance and operational performance.
5. Make Your Equipment Available and Accessible on Test Day
On the day of the LOLER inspection, your equipment will undergo a thorough examination by a qualified inspector so make sure each item is accessible and not in use. Here’s what you can expect during a LOLER test:
- Visual Inspection: The inspector will visually assess the equipment for obvious signs of damage, wear, or corrosion.
- Functional Tests: In some cases, the equipment may be tested to verify its functionality. This might involve lifting and lowering operations to assess performance under load.
- Assessment of Safety Features: Inspectors will check that all safety mechanisms, such as emergency stops, load limiters, and brakes, are working properly.
- Identification of Defects: Any defects or potential risks identified during the inspection will be noted. The inspector will recommend repairs or replacements as necessary to ensure the equipment is safe to use.
At the end of the process, you will receive a LOLER report detailing the findings, including any actions required to maintain compliance. Any serious defects found may require immediate action, and the equipment may be taken out of service until repairs are made.
At Bramley Engineering, we go beyond a basic inspection to ensure your lifting equipment remains safe and fully operational. If any equipment fails a LOLER inspection, you won’t need to worry as we offer comprehensive repair and replacement services to get you back on track quickly and efficiently.
6. Plan for Repairs and Follow-Up Actions
If the report has defects or issues identified, you will need to take action to address these. Depending on the severity of the defect, this could involve:
- Immediate Repairs: Severe defects will need to be repaired or taken out of service immediately. If any equipment being tested is vital to your operations, it’s good to have a plan in place for quick repairs.
- Scheduled Maintenance: For less urgent issues, the LOLER report will typically recommend a timeline for repairs to be scheduled accordingly.
- Record Keeping: Update your maintenance records with any repairs made following the inspection. Make sure to keep these records for at least 2 years as required by LOLER regulations. We offer a secure online database to all clients to help store your records safely.
With our repair services, we can offer on-site fixes for minor issues, minimising downtime and keeping your operations running smoothly. For more complex repairs, we can transport the equipment to our facility, where our skilled technicians will restore it to full working condition. And, all repairs will be instantly tracked and updated onto your account with us.
If repairs are not feasible or cost-effective, Bramley Engineering can also source and install high-quality replacement equipment tailored to your operational needs.
7. Establish an Ongoing LOLER Compliance Program
After passing the inspection, it’s important to maintain an ongoing program to stay compliant with LOLER regulations. We can help you with this by offering a comprehensive scheduling service with handy notifications to remind you when LOLER tests are due. Your business’s LOLER processes or program should include:
- Scheduling Future Inspections: LOLER requires inspections at regular intervals, typically every 6 or 12 months depending on the equipment. Establish a LOLER frequency using our system to track and schedule these inspections in advance.
- Continuous Monitoring: Create a routine to monitor equipment for wear and tear, and address any issues immediately, by introducing pre-use checks on lifting equipment and a quarantine zone for faulty equipment..
- Staff Refresher Training: Periodically retrain staff on safe equipment operation and maintenance practices.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your business remains aligned with health and safety regulations while reducing the risk of accidents, equipment failures and operational downtime.
If this seems like a lot of hassle, why not choose Bramley Engineering? We handle most of the challenges associated with LOLER inspections to help minimise your preparation workload and streamline the process, making compliance straightforward and hassle-free.
Schedule your LOLER test or request a free quote
Ready to book your next LOLER inspection, or want some help establishing a schedule? Contact us at Bramley Engineering today to request a free LOLER inspection quote and let our team of experts help you stay compliant and secure.
