LOLER Inspections: What They Are, How Often & Who Can Carry Them Out
If you operate forklift trucks in the UK, LOLER inspections are a legal obligation — not an optional extra. Yet many businesses are unclear on exactly what is required, how frequently inspections must take place, and who is qualified to carry them out. This guide covers everything you need to know.
What is LOLER?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations govern the safe use of lifting equipment in the workplace, including forklift trucks, pallet trucks, scissor lifts, and telehandlers. The regulations require that all lifting equipment is:
- Strong and stable enough for its intended use
- Positioned and installed to minimise any risks
- Clearly marked with safe working loads
- Used safely — with work planned, organised, and performed by competent people
- Subject to ongoing thorough examination
What is a LOLER thorough examination?
A thorough examination under LOLER is similar in principle to an MOT for a car. It is a systematic and detailed inspection of lifting equipment by a competent person to detect any defects that could pose a danger. It is not the same as routine servicing or maintenance — it is a formal safety inspection with legal weight.
For forklift trucks, the thorough examination covers the mast, forks, chains, hydraulic systems, tyres, brakes, steering, and all safety-critical components.
How often is a LOLER inspection required?
The frequency of LOLER thorough examinations depends on how the forklift is used:
| Use case | Required frequency |
| Used to lift people | Every 6 months |
| Used to lift loads (standard use) | Every 12 months |
| Exposed to conditions causing deterioration | More frequently — assessed case by case |
| New equipment put into service for the first time | Before first use (if no declaration of conformity) |
Your LOLER inspection schedule should be documented and available for inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at any time.
Who can carry out a LOLER inspection?
LOLER requires that thorough examinations are carried out by a ‘competent person’ — someone with the appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to detect defects or weaknesses. This person must be sufficiently independent and impartial to allow objective decisions to be made.
In practice, this means the inspection should be carried out by a qualified engineer from an accredited inspection body or an experienced specialist — not an in-house operator or general maintenance staff member.
At Davison Forklift, our engineers are fully certified to carry out LOLER thorough examinations on all makes and models of forklift truck, either at our workshop or at your premises.
What happens after a LOLER inspection?
Following a thorough examination, you will receive a written report detailing the condition of the equipment. If a defect is found that poses an immediate danger, you are legally required to take the equipment out of service until it is repaired. If the defect is not immediate but requires attention within a specified timeframe, the report will state a deadline for remedial work.
These reports must be kept on file and made available to the HSE on request.
What is the difference between LOLER and PUWER?
PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) covers the general safe use and maintenance of all work equipment, including forklifts. LOLER specifically covers the lifting function. In practice, forklift trucks must comply with both sets of regulations — LOLER for the lifting and PUWER for the overall equipment.
Book a LOLER inspection with Davison Forklift
Davison Forklift Ltd has been carrying out forklift inspections and thorough examinations for over 45 years. We are based in the West Midlands and cover Telford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry, and surrounding areas. Contact our team today to book a LOLER inspection or to discuss your compliance requirements.
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