What is LOLER? A plain-English guide for access platform operators

If you’ve bought, inherited, or manage access platforms in the UK, you’ve almost certainly come across the term LOLER. It gets referenced in site briefings, hire agreements, insurance policies, and health and safety documentation – but it’s rarely explained clearly.

This guide covers what LOLER actually means, what it requires from you as an equipment owner or operator, and what happens if you don’t comply.

What does LOLER stand for?

LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It’s a piece of UK health and safety legislation that sets out the legal requirements for lifting equipment used in the workplace – covering everything from how equipment must be used, to how often it must be inspected.

The regulations apply to any equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, including people. That covers cherry pickers, scissor lifts, tracked spider lifts, articulated and telescopic boom lifts, and any other mobile elevating work platform (MEWP).

What does LOLER require?

At its core, LOLER requires three things:

1. Lifting equipment must be suitable for its intended use

Before putting any machine to work, the duty holder must be satisfied it’s appropriate for the task – the right working height, the right load capacity, the right ground conditions.

2. Lifting operations must be properly planned and supervised

Any lift involving people or significant loads must be planned by a competent person, carried out safely, and supervised appropriately. This is particularly relevant on construction sites and in facilities management environments.

3. Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at regular intervals

This is the bit most people associate with LOLER – the regular inspection requirement. More on that below.

What is a LOLER inspection?

A LOLER inspection – formally called a thorough examination – is a detailed physical assessment of a lifting machine carried out by a competent person. It’s not the same as a routine service. A service keeps the machine running; a thorough examination assesses whether it’s safe to continue lifting people or loads.

During a LOLER examination, the engineer will assess:

• The structural integrity of the machine, including the boom, mast, and platform
• All safety-critical components – limit switches, emergency lowering, safety devices
• Hydraulic systems, cylinders, and hoses for leaks or wear
• The condition of tyres, tracks, and outriggers
• Control functions at ground level and in the platform
• All labels, markings, and safe working load indicators

At the end of the examination, a Report of Thorough Examination is issued – this is the LOLER certificate. It records the findings, flags any defects with a timeline for remediation, and confirms the date of the next required examination.

How often does a LOLER inspection need to happen?

For access platforms used to lift people, which includes virtually every MEWP, the legal requirement is every six months.

That’s not a guideline or a recommendation. It’s a legal minimum under LOLER 98, Schedule 1. If your machine lifts people and hasn’t had a thorough examination in more than six months, it’s non-compliant, regardless of condition.

The six-month interval is why most fixed-price service plans in the industry bundle two LOLER examinations per year – it’s the natural cycle.

For lifting accessories (slings, shackles, chains), the interval is also six months. For other lifting equipment that doesn’t lift people, the requirement is every twelve months, or in accordance with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.

Who is responsible for LOLER compliance?

The legal duty rests with the duty holder – in practice, that’s usually the equipment owner, the employer, or the person in control of the workplace where the equipment is being used.

If you own access platforms and operate them on your own site, the responsibility is yours. If you hire equipment in, it’s worth understanding that while the hire company is responsible for the condition of the machine when it leaves their yard, the duty for ensuring it’s appropriately maintained and inspected during the hire period will often fall to you as the operator.

For plant hire companies and rental fleets, LOLER compliance is non-negotiable – your customers and their sites will require current certificates before allowing machines on site, and insurers will check.

What happens if you don’t comply with LOLER?

Non-compliance with LOLER is a criminal offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The consequences can include:

• Improvement or prohibition notices from the HSE, stopping use of equipment immediately
• Unlimited fines for the business and potentially individuals
• Prosecution and imprisonment in serious cases, particularly following an incident
• Insurance becoming void – most commercial policies require LOLER compliance as a condition of cover
• Liability in the event of an accident – if an uninspected machine fails and causes injury, the absence of a current certificate makes any defence extremely difficult

The reality is that an LOLER examination costs a fraction of what any one of those consequences would. It’s also worth noting that thorough examinations often catch issues – hydraulic wear, structural fatigue, failing safety devices – that haven’t yet caused a problem but would.

What is the difference between LOLER and PUWER?

LOLER is often mentioned alongside PUWER – the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. They’re separate but related pieces of legislation.

PUWER applies broadly to all work equipment and covers how it’s selected, maintained, and used safely. LOLER applies specifically to lifting equipment and adds additional requirements on top of PUWER – particularly around thorough examinations and record-keeping.

If you own a scissor lift, both PUWER and LOLER apply. PUWER covers the general maintenance, guarding, and safe use obligations. LOLER adds the specific requirement for six-monthly thorough examinations.

Does LOLER apply to all access platforms?

Yes. Any MEWP used to lift people is subject to the six-monthly LOLER thorough examination requirement. That includes:

• Scissor lifts – electric, diesel, rough terrain
• Cherry pickers and boom lifts – articulated, telescopic, trailer-mounted
• Tracked spider lifts – including compact indoor models
• Push-arounds and vertical mast lifts
• Truck-mounted platforms

There’s no exemption based on machine age, size, frequency of use, or working height. A compact push-around used once a month needs a six-monthly LOLER examination just as much as a 30-metre spider lift used daily.

What should a LOLER certificate include?

A compliant Report of Thorough Examination should contain:

• The name and address of the competent person who carried out the examination
• A full description of the lifting equipment, including make, model, and serial number
• The safe working load
• The date of the examination and the date of the next examination due
• Details of any defects found, classified as: (A) – immediate danger, (B) – defect requiring repair within a set timeframe, or (C) – observation
• Confirmation that the machine is, or is not, safe to use

An (A) defect means the machine must not be used until the defect is rectified. A (B) defect allows continued use but requires repair within a defined period. Both must be reported to the relevant enforcing authority by the examiner.

If a certificate doesn’t include all of the above, it may not be LOLER compliant.

How to arrange a LOLER inspection for your access platform

APS carries out LOLER thorough examinations nationwide for all types of MEWPs. Our engineers are IPAF CAP-certified, experienced with all major manufacturers – Hinowa, JLG, Genie, Skyjack, Niftylift, LGMG and more – and can come to your site at a time that suits your operations, including out-of-hours if needed.

Every inspection includes the full Report of Thorough Examination and an APS aftercare decal showing your next due date. LOLER examinations are also included as standard in our fixed-price service plans, which cover two thorough examinations per year alongside a full service, all for a fixed monthly cost.

To book a LOLER examination or find out more, call us on 01480 891251 or get in touch online.