Compliance with LOLER regulations is crucial to any business that operates lifting equipment, especially in a high-risk industry like construction. LOLER compliance in construction industries is essential to maintain safety standards, protect staff and the public, and protect the company from legal disputes. We’re explaining what LOLER in construction is and what you need to know to be compliant.
What is LOLER in construction?
LOLER is an acronym for a set of safety regulations called the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations outline health and safety laws for managing risks associated with lifting equipment, including obligations for those who provide, control, and use it. LOLER is particularly important in the construction industry because of the various machinery and accessories used in building projects. All construction lifting equipment must undergo regular LOLER inspections and checks to ensure it complies with regulations. In the construction industry, cranes, hoists, and some excavators are common types of equipment that are subject to LOLER inspections. Inspections include a range of regular thorough examinations that report on many aspects of the equipment, including its design, installation, maintenance, and use.
What is a LOLER report?
Once the equipment has been inspected with a thorough examination, the duty holder will be given a detailed LOLER report that highlights any defects with the lifting equipment and actions or recommendations to be taken to correct these issues. Reports usually contain information such as:
- Details of the equipment including its make, model, and serial numbers.
- Examination date.
- Details of the examiner: Information about the competent person or inspector who conducted the examination, including their qualifications.
- A detailed account of the condition of the lifting equipment, including any defects or issues identified during the examination.
- If any defects are found, the report may include recommendations for repairs, maintenance, or further actions to ensure the safe use of the equipment.
- Next examination due date.
Record-keeping requirements and the length of time these records must be kept varies depending on the type of equipment. To make things simple, we offer an online LOLER Inspection Database, where all reports can be uploaded, stored, and accessed via your account to keep records in line with regulations. Get in touch to find out more.
How to maintain LOLER compliance in construction
The only way to maintain compliance with LOLER is to complete all equipment that fall under LOLER are checked and inspected at regular intervals in line with the regulations. These examinations must be completed by a competent person who is impartial, and all records must by kept up to date and retained for the specified period of time, depending on the equipment. Failure to comply with LOLER can cause serious legal repercussions and put staff and the public at risk of injury or even fatality.
What is covered by LOLER in construction?
LOLER applies to all equipment and accessories used to lift. Here are some of the lifting equipment subject to LOLER inspections, commonly found in construction:
- Cranes: mobile cranes, crawler cranes, and other types of cranes used for lifting heavy materials and equipment on construction sites.
- Hoists and winches: used for vertical lifting of materials, tools, and equipment within buildings or between different levels.
- Lifts and elevators: passenger lifts, goods lifts, and construction hoists are covered by LOLER when used on construction sites for vertical transportation.
- Forklift trucks: forklifts are commonly used on-site for moving materials and equipment.
- Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs): scissor lifts, boom lifts, and cherry pickers used for working at height.
- Anchor Systems: If anchor systems are employed for lifting or securing loads in construction operations, they fall under LOLER.
- Concrete skips and kibbles: used by lifting to transport and pour concrete on construction sites.
- Telescopic handlers: used for lifting and placing loads in construction.
- Lifting accessories: Accessories such as slings, chains, hooks, and shackles used in conjunction with lifting equipment on construction sites.
Do ladders come under LOLER?
Employers are obligated by law to ensure that ladders are safe and inspected regularly. However, not all ladders require a LOLER inspection specifically. Most ladders will require tests and checks to stay compliant with the Provision of Use and Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). This means ladders must be robust and stable, used only for their intended purpose, operated safely by competent individuals, and subject to regular inspections, among other requirements. If you’re unsure whether your ladders need to be LOLER tested, get in touch.
LOLER and excavators
Excavators, in their typical use for digging and earthmoving, are not generally considered lifting equipment covered by LOLER. However, if an excavator or digger is being used on-site in conjunction with any lifting operations, depending on the circumstances it may fall under the scope of LOLER.
Does a digger need LOLER?
LOLER primarily applies to equipment specifically designed for lifting and lowering loads, such as cranes, hoists, forklifts, and certain types of lifting accessories. However, there are situations where diggers may involve lifting operations that fall under LOLER. For example:
- Attachments with Lifting Functionality: If an excavator is fitted with an attachment specifically designed for lifting, such as a lifting hook or grapple, and is used for lifting and lowering loads, that specific lifting component may be subject to LOLER. The rest of the excavator, used for its primary function of digging and earthmoving, would not fall under LOLER.
- Specialised Excavators: In some cases, specialised excavators with built-in lifting features or modifications for lifting may be subject to LOLER. This could include excavators designed for specific lifting tasks rather than general earthmoving.
Always consult with a LOLER expert to ensure compliance with relevant regulations when using excavators in lifting operations.
How often should an excavator be inspected?
Depending on what type of regulations the excavator must adhere to, the frequency of testing and inspection varies. LOLER, PUWER, and other regulations will require different frequencies depending on the equipment. As a guide, our recommendation is:
- Once every 12 months for non-lifting excavator equipment or accessories.
- 6-12 months for specialised excavators and functional lifting accessories.
- Once every 6 months for equipment used for lifting people.
If you’re worried about missing an inspection due date, we offer a reminder service for LOLER and PUWER inspections so you can receive notifications ahead of time, prompting you to schedule your next inspection to maintain LOLER compliance in construction.
How do you get a LOLER inspection certificate?
A LOLER certificate is fundamentally the report provided after a thorough examination that proves your business’ LOLER compliance in construction. By choosing a professional LOLER inspection service like Bramley Engineering, the lengthy process of receiving your LOLER report will be minimised – we like to keep things simple for you. The general steps to get a LOLER certificate are:
- Identify Lifting Equipment: Determine which lifting equipment in your company falls under the scope of LOLER. This includes cranes, hoists, lifts, forklifts, and other lifting machinery. We can help with this.
- Choose a Reputable LOLER Inspection Service: This person or service should have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out thorough examinations in compliance with LOLER.
- Thorough Examination Schedule: A schedule should be established for each piece of lifting equipment. The frequency of examinations depends on the type of equipment, but we can advise and take care of this schedule for you.
- Thorough Examination Process: We will conduct thorough examinations where the equipment is checked for any defects or issues.
- LOLER Report: We will provide a LOLER report detailing the results of the thorough examination. This report includes information about the condition of the equipment, any defects found, and recommendations for action. This is often what is referred to as a LOLER certificate.
- Review and Repeat: Regularly review and update your LOLER compliance procedures. Repeat the process of thorough examinations according to the schedule established for each piece of lifting equipment. We will always be on hand to support you with reviewing and updating procedures and offer additional reminders for booking ongoing inspections in line with LOLER frequency regulations.
Schedule your LOLER inspection today
Request your free quote with us and we’ll give you a call back within 24 hours to discuss how we can help keep your construction business LOLER compliant.
For more information on our LOLER inspector service, get in touch or give us a call directly at 01525 375 225.
