LOLER is aimed at ensuring that all lifting operations are properly planned, that lifting equipment is used in a safe manner, and that it is thoroughly examined for safety.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires “all employers to assess the risks to employees and any others who may be affected by their undertaking, to enable them to identify measures necessary to comply with their duties under health & safety law”.
Employers and the self-employed have a responsibility under LOLER to ensure:
Lifting equipment is fit for its purpose under conditions of use.
Machines are in a safe condition for work.
Machines are inspected at regular intervals by a competent person (not daily checks).
Machines are strong and stable enough for the particular use.
Machines are marked to indicate safe working loads.
Machinery is used safely, ie the work is planned, organised and performed by competent people.
Machinery is subject to an ongoing, thorough examination.
Why inspect?
The rules aim to reduce risks to people’s health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at work.
In addition to the requirements of LOLER, lifting equipment is subject to the requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
Compact articulated wheeled or tracked loaders like Avant, Norcar, MultiOne
Fore-end loaders.
Fork-lift trucks.
Telescopic handlers.
Workshop hoists and rope hoists.
Workshop lifting equipment – bottle jacks, etc.
Cranes on machines (eg fertiliser spreaders or lorry cranes.)
Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP’s), all powered access machines including booms, scissor lifts, spiders and cherrypickers
Every 12 months unless the lifting equipment is being used to lift people, in which case the equipment (which includes forklift working platforms) must be examined every 6 months.
Examinations are to be made by a competent inspector and records kept.